UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor on the moon

Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by kjellsbells on Saturday March 18, 2023 @11:39PM (#35215802)

Is it me, or is the UK government launching an unusually large number of boondoggles lately? Nuclear reactors on the moon. Attempts to become a major player in battery technology. It feels to my jaundiced eye like the UK is trying just a little too hard to remind the world that they still matter.

Some Brexit insecurity might explain this, perhaps, but that was over five years ago.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by switch007 on Sunday March 19, 2023 @12:31AM (#35216049)

Local elections in May and general election (likely) next year. And we’ve just had the Budget

I think there’s plenty of Brexit insecurity still lol

The Tory party has a trashed reputation currently so they’re trying to reclaim some ground

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by rozal on Sunday March 19, 2023 @12:34AM (#35216073)

USA has secretly gotten ahead of the quantum race.

Part of their disclosure plan is it work with allies on multiple needs.

With fusion on the horizon, we will need batteries.

With electromagnetic craft, moon trips will be easy.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by whatshisface on Sunday March 19, 2023 @01:10AM (#35216235)

Secretly? QC companies have been shouting every tiny bit of progress from the rooftops, usually before it gets made.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by rozal on Friday March 31, 2023 @01:55AM (#35383143)

That’s because the military already had it. They are just now getting bits and pieces.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by panick21_ on Sunday March 19, 2023 @06:39PM (#35224452)

Fusion isn't on the horizon. And batteries are needed for EVs and Solar/Wind.

And electromagnetic craft are a terrible way to get to the moon.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by rozal on Friday March 31, 2023 @01:56AM (#35383156)

Why is it terrible? Using microwave emitters in a superconductive hull, and with enough energy, can engineer the pulling mechanics of the superforce.

This is all stuff the military has explored

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by AYBABTME on Sunday March 19, 2023 @01:02AM (#35216199)

Their economy is in decline, they need to do something to change the trajectory.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by whatshisface on Sunday March 19, 2023 @01:06AM (#35216218)

"Something must be done. This is something. Therefore, it must be done." - Yes, Minister.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by deepsun on Sunday March 19, 2023 @03:21AM (#35216793)

USSR economy was in decline. So they built Buran (copycat of Space Shuttle), and Tu-144 (copycat of Concorde). Both are extremely costly, and that helped USSR to fall sooner.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by Prbeek on Sunday March 19, 2023 @05:27PM (#35223827)

They tried launching satellites two months ago in their first ever rocket mission and it failed.

Something pretty routine for Russia, US and China and even heavily sanctioned Iran.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by panick21_ on Sunday March 19, 2023 @06:40PM (#35224462)

No they didn't. It simply a US company that flew a plane out of the US.

The failure had nothing to do with the UK.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by kaanski on Sunday March 19, 2023 @06:42PM (#35224469)

As we all know doing something new requires immediate success or it isn’t worth pursuing.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by cwsx on Sunday March 19, 2023 @09:35PM (#35226162)

When you fall off a horse, do you get back on? Personally I head straight home and refuse to even look at a horse ever again.

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Re:UK backs Rolls-Royce project to build a nuclear reactor o... by blitzar on Monday March 20, 2023 @05:25AM (#35229108)

This is the usual amount - they just dont normally force the journalists to write about every grant that gets handed out.

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