Technology Suite
ASCENT™
A micro-reactor that uses minimal complexity to mitigate regulatory risk and development costs while preserving extensibility across missions.
Reactor Core and Fuel Architecture
ASCENT™ employs a compact HALEU-fueled reactor core designed for long-duration operation without onsite refueling.
Fuel type: HALEU (15–19.75% enrichment)
Fuel form: Metallic uranium or uranium nitride
Neutron spectrum: Fast to epithermal
Thermal output: ~2.5–3.0 MWth
Core lifetime: 10-year sealed cartridge
The core geometry supports high power density, predictable degradation behavior, and compatibility with both terrestrial and lunar deployments.
Passive Heat Transport
Primary heat removal is achieved through integral sodium heat pipes.
This approach provides:
Fully passive operation
Continuous decay heat removal
Tolerance to shock, vibration, and low-gravity environments
Elimination of active primary coolant pumps
Heat transport performance is identical across configurations.
Energy Conversion
Energy conversion systems are configuration-specific and do not alter reactor safety or core behavior.
ASCENT™-T: Electrical and or thermal export modules based on mission needs
ASCENT™-L: Closed Brayton-cycle electrical power conversion aligned with NASA and DOE requirements
Automation and Supervisory Control
ASCENT™ operates under automated control across all operating states, with continuous 24/7 human supervisory authority.
Human operators retain authority over startup, shutdown, and major operating transitions. Advanced diagnostics support long-duration autonomous operation.