Design and analysis of a lunar surface SMR with integrated ISRU for a 100 person lunar habitat

Abstract

The establishment of a sustainable lunar habitat requires the development of compact, high-density, and reliable power systems. This study presents the conceptual design of a controllable fast-spectrum nuclear reactor with a 10-year operational life cycle and an energy conversion system capable of providing uninterrupted power of 10 MW to support a 100-person lunar habitat and its In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) operations. The proposed power conversion system designated as the Strayton cycle delivers electrical power with 42% efficiency. Strayton cycle recuperates waste heat from the primary Brayton loop to the Thermoacoustic Stirling bottoming cycle. This highly efficient Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Strayton cycle concept design validates the feasibility of the whole system to meet the base power. © 2026 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.