Many scientists and engineers who’ve thought about the logistics of living on the surface of the Red Planet have assumed that nuclear power is the best alternative, in large part because of its reliability and 24/7 operation.
In the past decade, miniaturised kilopower nuclear fission reactors have advanced to the point where Nasa considers them to be a safe, efficient and plentiful source of energy and key to future robotic and human exploration.
Solar power, on the other hand, must be stored for use at night, which on Mars lasts about the same length of time as on Earth. Solar panels' power production can also be reduced on Mars by the omnipresent red dust that covers everything. Nasa's nearly 15-year-old Opportunity rover, powered by solar panels, stopped working after a massive dust storm in 2019.
However, thanks to today's light, flexible solar panels, photovoltaics may be more practical for long stays, according to the University of California...