Statement of Work Summary: Lunar Reactor 1 (LR-1) Phase 1 Task Order

This Statement of Work (SOW) defines the requirements for NASA's Lunar Reactor 1 Phase 1 development program, a 20 kWe fission power system designed for lunar surface deployment by December 2030. The contractor must complete engineering design and analysis to achieve a hardware-driven Preliminary Design Review (PDR) within 18 months of award, including non-nuclear hardware demonstrations and component-level radiation exposure testing. Three primary objectives guide the work: developing a PDR-level design meeting defined requirements with adequate technology readiness; performing an electrically heated integrated system test in a relevant environment incorporating representative key subsystems through an Engineering Test Unit (ETU); and conducting component-level radiation exposure testing to demonstrate the design will operate in both induced (reactor) and natural (lunar surface) radiation environments.

The LR-1 system utilizes closed-loop Brayton power conversion with High-Assay Low-Enrichment Uranium (HALEU) fuel, incorporating subsystems for reactor heat transport, power conversion, heat rejection, and power management and distribution. Key requirements include continuous 5-year operational capability at full power on the lunar south pole, single-failure tolerance to catastrophic events, automatic operation with intermittent ground communications, accommodation of user loads varying from 0-100% of output, a 15-ton mass limit, and compliance with nuclear launch authorization standards (NSPM-20, SPD-6, NPR 8715.26) and Department of Energy standards. The ETU deliverables include an electrically-heated reactor simulator, reactor heat transport assembly, Brayton power conversion units, heat rejection systems with radiators, Power Management and Distribution equipment, control software, and supporting test equipment. The contract requires participation in a System Requirements Review at month three, Test Readiness Reviews as needed, and a PDR at month 18, with monthly or quarterly Project Management Reviews and periodic Technical Interchange Meetings throughout execution.