Space Power Systems

Nuclear power can provide steady, reliable power to allow human and robotic  lunar and Mars surface operations regardless of environmental conditions.

L3Harris teamed with Westinghouse Government Services to design a 40 Kilowatt Fission Surface Power (FSP) system that could be demonstrated on the surface of the Moon before the end of the decade.

L3Harris is working to scale the technology to 100 Kilowatts or more depending on mission requirements. A future demonstration will pave the way for sustainable operations on the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. 

The Fission Surface Power project is sponsored by NASA in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Idaho National Laboratory.

L3Harris was awarded a contract from Sierra Space to supply the electric power system for the Dream Chaser, a reusable commercial spacecraft that will carry cargo to and from the International Space Station. We designed, developed, fabricated, tested and delivered the Dream Chaser’s electric high and low power systems, including power conversion, distribution units and  batteries.

The low power system will regulate power generated from Dream Chaser’s solar arrays and distribute it to the avionics, thermal and propulsion systems, as well as payloads that require electric power. The high-power system provides power to control surfaces and brakes during landing. The capacity of the low power rechargeable batteries will allow Dream Chaser to increase its free-flight time in space, as well as support the spacecraft's cargo delivery and return journey back to Earth.