Nuclear fission is seen as a key enabler for lunar operations due to its resilience in hostile environments and its ability to provide uninterrupted energy during two-week-long lunar nights. Framatome and ENEA will combine their expertise to accelerate Europe's capability in this domain.

"This partnership with ENEA brings the creation of Framatome Space to fruition and validates the importance of having an industrial and historical actor involved in future developments," said Gregoire Lambert, Vice President of Framatome Space. "The overall success of such developments will require different European competencies; we are happy to be part of the adventure." He noted the recent launch of Framatome Italy as another milestone in the company's collaboration with Italy.

The MoU identifies three priority areas. The first is research into suitable reactor fuel that balances efficiency with safety. The second focuses on new materials designed to withstand extreme space conditions. The third is the application of additive manufacturing to produce advanced reactor components.

"Pooling and integrating our expertise together with Framatome is a stepping stone for increasing the international outreach of our activities on surface nuclear reactors, which is a precondition for success in such a complex technological endeavour," said Alessandro Dodaro, Director of ENEA's Nuclear Department. "Furthermore, the collaboration will enable the development of even more competitive technical solutions so to push further the industrial maturity of the sector."

The agreement represents a strategic step in advancing nuclear energy systems for space exploration. By increasing the readiness of fission reactors for surface use, Europe can expand its role in supporting sustainable lunar exploration and lay groundwork for future missions to Mars.

Related Links
Framatome Space
Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Development,
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com