Think You Can Build a Nuclear Power Plant On the Moon? - Newser

In a statement, Battelle Energy Alliance and NASA say they’re looking for proposals, presumably from engineers who actually know what they're doing, to "establish a durable, high-power, sun-independent power source for NASA missions on the moon by the end of the decade, as well as potential subsequent missions." The thinking, apparently, is once there’s a power source on the moon, expanding space exploration will be easier.

And, there’s the possibility that whatever technological innovation ensues can be used down here, too.

"I expect fission surface power systems to greatly benefit our plans for power architectures for the moon and Mars and even drive innovation for uses here on Earth," said Jim Reuter of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate.