The Future of Portable Clean Energy
ASCENT™
An Integrated Nuclear Energy Platform for Terrestrial and Lunar Power
A Complete Microreactor Energy System
ASCENT™ is an integrated microreactor energy system being developed by Q Energy Systems for terrestrial and lunar applications.
At the center of ASCENT™ is advanced nuclear microreactor technology sourced from a qualified reactor developer. Q Energy Systems integrates that reactor technology with the systems required to transform it into a complete, deployable, and operational nuclear power system.
ASCENT™ brings together the reactor, thermal management, power conversion, electrical power management and distribution, controls, instrumentation, communications, protection systems, mechanical integration, deployment infrastructure, and end-use power interfaces within a unified system architecture.
Q Energy Systems' role is to engineer and integrate these technologies into a complete nuclear reactor system—rather than independently developing the reactor core itself.
The result is a configurable microreactor system designed to provide reliable, long-duration power across demanding terrestrial environments and future lunar surface applications.
One Reactor Platform.
Two Deployment Configurations.
ASCENT™ is built around a single sealed HALEU reactor core, offered in two tightly coupled deployment configurations:
ASCENT™-T
Terrestrial 500kwe Configuration Optimized for rapid deployment, higher electrical output, and flexible integration across U.S. industrial, defense, and infrastructure markets.
ASCENT™ L
Lunar 100kwe Configuration Optimized for mass efficiency, vacuum thermal rejection, autonomous operation, and alignment with NASA and DOE lunar surface power objectives.
Both configurations share the same nuclear core, fuel type, safety philosophy, and manufacturing process. Differences are limited to balance-of-plant systems.
Why ASCENT™
Single-truck transportable
Power available within 24 hours of arrival
One sealed reactor core
Passive safety with human supervisory authority
HALEU-optimized compact architecture
Earth-validated, space-ready by design
Direct alignment with U.S. energy and lunar mandates
ASCENT™ is a modern and easily deployable nuclear energy system.
How ASCENT™ Works
ASCENT™ is a sealed, factory-fabricated nuclear energy system designed for long-duration operation without onsite refueling or nuclear maintenance.
At a high level, the system operates as follows:
A compact HALEU-fueled reactor core produces steady thermal power.
Passive sodium heat pipes transport heat away from the core without pumps or active flow.
Thermal energy is converted to usable electrical and or thermal output through configuration-specific power systems.
Heat is rejected through compact terrestrial systems or radiator-based vacuum systems for lunar operation.
The system operates under automated control with continuous human supervisory authority.
The reactor core, safety systems, and control philosophy remain identical across all deployments. Only balance-of-plant systems change between Earth and lunar configurations.
Our Timeline
Terrestrial Demonstration & Regulatory Engagement
Initial terrestrial deployment of ASCENT™-T in controlled environments, coupled with early regulatory engagement and test-readiness activities.
- Validation of reactor physics and heat transport
- Automation and supervisory control validation
- Alignment with NRC microreactor modernization
- Participation in DOE reactor testing reform pathways
Operational Terrestrial Validation
Extended terrestrial operation of ASCENT™-T to demonstrate stability, reliability, and predictable performance under real-world conditions.
- Performance data collection
- Long-duration autonomous operation validation
- Manufacturing and deployment learning
- Early customer engagement for terrestrial missions
Lunar System Qualification
Qualification of ASCENT™-L balance-of-plant systems for lunar environments, including power conversion, thermal rejection, shielding approach, and autonomous operation.
- Closed Brayton-cycle power systems
- Vacuum thermal rejection architectures
- Lunar integration and transport constraints
Integration & Mission Readiness
Final integration of ASCENT™-L for lunar delivery, including launch interface compatibility, system packaging, and mission-level readiness reviews.
- Lunar transport
- Surface emplacement
- Initial commissioning operations
Lunar Deployment & Surface Operation
Commissioning of ASCENT™-L on the lunar surface as part of sustained U.S. lunar infrastructure, followed by long-duration autonomous operation.
- Fleet learning
- System refinement
- Expansion to additional cislunar applications
Q = I · t
[Electric energy accumulated over time]
•
Q = mcΔT
[Thermal energy stored and transferred]
•
Q = Δmc²
[Nuclear energy expressed through change in mass]
•
Q = I · t [Electric energy accumulated over time] • Q = mcΔT [Thermal energy stored and transferred] • Q = Δmc² [Nuclear energy expressed through change in mass] •