Rolls-Royce’s space nuclear power technology is one of a number of national projects to secure funding from the UK Space Agency (UKSA).

The £4.8m awarded to Rolls-Royce under the UKSA’s National Space Innovation Programme (NSIP) will help it advance the development and demonstration of key technologies in the space nuclear micro-reactor.

The Rolls-Royce NSIP, with a total project cost of £9.1m, aims to bring the nuclear micro-reactor closer to a full system space flight demonstration before 2030.

Over the next 18 months, in collaboration with academic partners from the University of Oxford and Bangor University, this funding will help accelerate the programme further.

The limiting factor for long-term space exploration is ensuring there is sufficient power onboard a spacecraft. Unlike solar energy, nuclear fission reaction technologies can meet power requirements without the sun.

Jake Thompson, director of novel nuclear and special projects at Rolls-Royce, said: “The future of space exploration...