Spanish-British Team Develops Hybrid Solar-Nuclear Power System for Moon and Mars Missions

Solving Power Problems on the Moon and Mars

A team of Spanish and British engineers has successfully tested a promising power system for space missions, bringing a solution to energy supply problems in extreme environments closer than ever.

The project is led by the Escuela de Ingeniería Aeronáutica y Espacial (School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering) and the universities of Oviedo and Leicester. Their goal: solve the energy supply challenge on the Moon or Mars by combining solar energy and nuclear heat sources.

The work is part of a wider programme funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), aiming to extend the lifespan of planetary science missions where traditional energy sources are limited.

How It Works

Solar energy has been the standard power source in space, but it becomes far less available as missions stretch to more demanding environments — particularly during the long lunar night, which can last up to 14 Earth days.

To overcome this, the team has turned to radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs), which produce heat from unstable atoms and convert it into electricity. This provides a constant energy supply even without sunlight.

The innovation lies in combining both systems. The hybrid RTG-solar architecture uses a management system that balances solar and nuclear energy depending on conditions:

• During sunlight periods, solar power is maximised
• During long lunar nights, the nuclear component ensures continued operation
• Waste heat from the RTG is used to protect batteries and electronics during freezing conditions
• The balance between both sources reduces overall system weight

What the Researchers Say

Doctoral researcher Jose Antonio Fernandez said hybrid systems like this could "open the door to more ambitious missions, allowing continuous scientific activity in places where it was previously impossible."

Principal investigator Dr Ramy Mesalam added: "The future of space exploration is not about choosing between solar or nuclear power, but about the intelligent combination of both."

Strengthening Spain-UK Scientific Ties

The project not only advances space technology but also strengthens bilateral research ties between Spain and the UK, providing the global scientific community with what the team describes as a "proven and scalable energy solution."

As the Artemis programme prepares to return humans to the Moon — and with Mars missions on the horizon — reliable power in extreme environments is one of the biggest engineering challenges. This Spanish-British collaboration is helping to solve it.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 10, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.