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Novel nuclear power plants developed for future extraterrestrial bases

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments30 August 2011

lunar-nuclear-powerplant-1Researchers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are cooperating in order to develop a technology that could be used as the first nuclear power plant for production of electricity on potential future extraterrestrial bases. Although far different from the familiar terrestrial nuclear power stations, they are… »

Robotics»

A small spherical inspection robot for nuclear reactor underground pipes

By Damir Beciri
21 July 2011

mit-spherical-robot-for-nuclear-plantsCurrently, nuclear powerplant inspectors use indirect methods to monitor buried piping by generating a voltage gradient to identify areas where pipe coatings may have corroded, and by using ultrasonic waves to screen lengths of pipe for cracks. A team of researchers from MIT is developing small, egg-sized robots designed to inspect nuclear reactor underground pipes… »