The project is funded by the European commission through the Euratom Research and Training Programme, a complementary funding programme to Horizon Europe covering nuclear research and innovation. The Euratom programme has a budget of €1.38bn for the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2025.
Tractebel will research dynamic radioisotope power systems (RPSs) powered by plutonium 238 (Pu-238) for space applications. RPSs are essential for supplying spacecraft and astronauts with electricity and heat where the sun does not provide enough energy. They use heat from the natural radioactive decay of plutonium-238 (Pu-238) to produce electricity.
Neither Pu-238 nor RPSs are currently manufactured in Europe. Tractabel said the technology could be used to explore the moon and Mars. It could also help establish a permanent base on the moon, the so-called “Moon Village” promoted by The European Space Agency.
The Pulsar consortium includes the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European commission, the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK CEN, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), INCOTEC, ArianeGroup, Airbus Defense and Space, the University of Bourgogne Franche Comté and Arttic.
