Grants and Contributions

CSMC is actively developing Canada’s only space Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) — the Low Enriched Uranium Nuclear Reactor (“LEUNR”) — a flagship capability to help establish Canada’s international leadership in an increasingly strategic and competitive domain for space nuclear. The proposed work seeks to validate the conceptual performance of the reactor through representative, unfueled testing on CSMC’s analog reactor, and inform CSMC’s work to raise LEUNR’s readiness from its TRL 4/5 Conceptual Design to a TRL 6 Detailed Design by the end of the project. Commercial space activities have been growing rapidly for the past decade as space agencies, militaries, and private entities race towards long-duration missions, lunar bases, and Mars exploration. CSMC’s LEUNR MMR represents a singularly compelling solution to address the renewed and urgent need to develop modular, safe, and scalable fission solutions for space.

Funding will support research and development to address National Defence’s Challenge: North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Modernization Science & Technology (S&T) Contest. Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) and its defence and security partners seek to advance capabilities in five key areas: quantum technologies; autonomous systems; counter-uncrewed aerial systems (CUAS); Arctic mobility and navigation of military platforms; and energy solutions that are scalable, efficient, and sustainable for current and future Arctic operations. The initiative targets critical science and technology gaps in threat detection, situational awareness, decision support, and operational effectiveness to strengthen continental defence and support NORAD modernization.

LunaPure is an entirely self-sustained system that relies on the controlled application of natural elements of the lunar environment to convert dirty lunar ice into drinkable water.

Participation in the ITEA Project Outline (PO) Days in Antwerp, Belgium along Canadian orientation activities. Mission will take place from September 9 to 13, 2024. The goal of Canadian participation in the PO Days is to develop international partnerships and potential project ideas under the Eureka ITEA Cluster

LunaPure is an entirely self-sustained system that relies on the controlled application of natural elements of the lunar environment to convert dirty lunar ice into drinkable water.

CSMC’s Quantum Anomaly & Subsurface Mapper (QASM) is a next wave technology for gravity sensing and resource prospecting with precision beyond the state-of-the-art. This project will advance its AI/data capabilities.

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are a critical path for meeting clean energy demands on Earth as well as delivering sustainable power to habitats and industrial activities on the lunar surface. However, current efforts to develop novel SMRs are trailing far behind the requirements for both, to the detriment of our planet and scientific exploration. This is especially meaningful in Canada’s Arctic, where diesel generators are accelerating ice melt to disastrous and irreversible effects on the world’s climate. SMR requirements sit at the nexus of timing, technology gaps, and iconic Canadian strengths, and represent a generational opportunity for Canada to lead on the world stage. CSMC has reviewed Canada's rich heritage in nuclear reactors and has determined that by revitalizing a proven and iconic Canadian technology, Canada can propel itself to the forefront of delivering clean, reliable and safe nuclear power, both terrestrial and lunar fission power, years ahead of competing efforts.

The Canadian Space Mining Company (CSMC) has developed domain expertise in the field of resource exploration on the lunar surface. As part of that effort CSMC has developed a novel concept for an imaging device that is low power, inexpensive and man-portable with applications ranging from geotechnical use for identification of critical minerals on both Earth and the lunar surface; to 3D tomography of human tissue for in-field medical applications; to defect detection for advanced manufacturing. Through this project CSMC seeks to validate its TIMS concept, thereby advancing the state-of-the-art in mobile 3D imaging and introducing a disruptive technology across sectors that are presently valued at more than USD $79B.