Dr. John Bess
Research Scientist
Center for Space Nuclear Research
Dr. Bess successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, The Lunar Evolutionary Growth Optimized (LEGO) Reactor, which describes a modular fission reactor design for the surface of the Moon. Leveraging the unique features found in lunar soil, the reactor design is comprised of several core subunits, each of which is buried in the lunar soil and then coupled together to create an operational reactor. Individually, the subunits are incapable of producing a reaction, thus making them safe for space transport. Dr. Bess developed his dissertation while working in collaboration with researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory, the University of Utah, and colleagues at the CSNR.
About CSNR
The Center for Space Nuclear Research (
CSNR) is located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and operated by USRA and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). CSNR creates opportunities for university researchers to collaborate with their counterparts at NASA, INL, and other Department of Energy labs, in projects and initiatives to advance nuclear technologies for space exploration and other space applications.
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