The Future of Portable Clean Energy

A Modular, Long-Life Microreactor Platform for Terrestrial and Lunar Power

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Deployable Nuclear Energy Platform

A single-reactor HALEU microreactor platform delivering reliable, long-duration clean power for U.S. terrestrial missions today and lunar surface power by 2030.

Developed by Q Energy Systems, ASCENT™ is a transportable nuclear energy system designed to deliver usable power within 24 hours of arrival — independent of fuel logistics, weather, or grid availability.

Unlike traditional nuclear projects or experimental demonstrations, ASCENT™ is engineered as a deployable energy product, validated first on Earth and designed from inception for long-duration autonomous operation in extreme environments, including the lunar surface.

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 Configuration Optimized for rapid deployment, higher electrical output, and flexible integration across U.S. industrial, defense, and infrastructure markets.

ASCENT™ L

Lunar 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:

  1. A compact HALEU-fueled reactor core produces steady thermal power.

  2. Passive sodium heat pipes transport heat away from the core without pumps or active flow.

  3. Thermal energy is converted to usable electrical and or thermal output through configuration-specific power systems.

  4. Heat is rejected through compact terrestrial systems or radiator-based vacuum systems for lunar operation.

  5. 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

Phase I
2026–2027

Terrestrial Demonstration & Regulatory Engagement

Initial terrestrial deployment of ASCENT™-T in controlled environments, coupled with early regulatory engagement and test-readiness activities.

Objectives include:
  • 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.

This phase supports:
  • Performance data collection
  • Long-duration autonomous operation validation
  • Manufacturing and deployment learning
  • Early customer engagement for terrestrial missions
Phase II
2027–2028
Phase III
2028–2029

Lunar System Qualification

Qualification of ASCENT™-L balance-of-plant systems for lunar environments, including power conversion, thermal rejection, shielding approach, and autonomous operation.

The nuclear core remains unchanged; qualification focuses on:
  • 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.

This phase prepares the system for:
  • Lunar transport
  • Surface emplacement
  • Initial commissioning operations
Phase IV
2029-2030
Phase V
2030 and Beyond

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.

Post-deployment efforts focus on:
  • 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] •