Hyundai E&C Develops and Tests Used Nuclear Fuel Repository Excavation Equipment

Hyundai E&C has developed and tested specialized excavation equipment for used nuclear fuel disposal facilities. This initiative is part of a government-funded research and development project focused on used nuclear fuel management, led by the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD). Hyundai E&C is the sole construction company involved in this project.

The HMG Construction Technology Research Institute, an integrated R&D organization of Hyundai E&C and Hyundai Engineering, is developing core technologies for disposal facility construction. These technologies include excavation equipment and methods, as well as rock monitoring. The dedicated deposition hole excavation equipment developed by Hyundai E&C measures 1.75 meters in diameter and 5.7 meters in length. It is designed to meet the specifications and construction conditions of the Korea Advanced Disposal System (KORADIS), a disposal system for used nuclear fuel tailored to Korea's geological environment and technical requirements.

A key feature of the equipment is its foldable cutterhead, which allows for the repeated excavation of multiple deposition holes within a disposal facility. After excavation, the cutterhead can be folded for safe retrieval and reuse. Hyundai E&C verified the equipment's performance and constructability by conducting full-scale deposition hole excavation in rock within an underground research tunnel. During the demonstration, artificial intelligence (AI) was used to analyze excavation data in real time, optimizing the excavation process based on ground conditions and equipment performance. Post-excavation, LiDAR-based digital mapping was employed to verify construction quality and assess the suitability of the deposition hole, enhancing the reliability of the results.

Hyundai E&C is also expanding its research beyond excavation technologies to include construction materials and rock engineering, aiming to ensure the long-term safety of disposal facilities. This includes developing concrete and grout for long-term performance of engineered barriers and groundwater inflow control. The company is also advancing a rock classification system specific to Korea's geological characteristics, alongside digital rock assessment and monitoring technologies. These efforts aim to secure a comprehensive range of core technologies for disposal facility construction.

An official from the HMG Construction Technology Research Institute stated that Hyundai E&C is the first Korean builder to develop dedicated deposition hole excavation equipment and verify its performance through actual rock excavation. The company aims to strengthen its capabilities across the entire nuclear lifecycle, from power plant construction and decommissioning to spent nuclear fuel disposal, to solidify its position in the global nuclear industry.

In South Korea, used fuel is currently stored on nuclear power plant sites, with many facilities nearing full capacity. In February 2025, the National Assembly passed an act mandating the construction of interim storage facilities for high-level radioactive waste by 2050 and permanent disposal facilities by 2060. The High-Level Radioactive Waste Special Act includes provisions for the construction and operation of these facilities, support for host communities, establishment of a High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Committee, and procedures for site selection and community engagement.

NASA and DOE Collaborate on Space Nuclear Technologies

NASA and the US Department of Energy (DOE) have formalized a partnership to accelerate the development of next-generation nuclear technologies for space. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), titled "Accelerating American Leadership in Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion," was signed on October 8 by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. The MoU, which takes effect on November 1, aims to enhance civil space exploration, facilitate scientific discovery, and strengthen American leadership in space nuclear power and propulsion.

NASA Administrator Isaacman stated that the agency is entering a "Nuclear-NASA era," signifying a transformation in space exploration. He emphasized that nuclear power will enable longer missions, greater distances, and more capable spacecraft and instruments. This initiative is intended to lay the groundwork for future fission-powered spacecraft and open new frontiers for exploration.

Fission-Powered Spacecraft and Lunar Reactors

NASA is working towards a 2030 deadline to develop a launch-ready lunar surface reactor, a directive under the 2025 Executive Order on Ensuring American Space Superiority. The agency reports steady progress on this goal in collaboration with the DOE.

A key project is the Space Reactor-1 Freedom (SR-1), described as the first fission-powered interplanetary spacecraft, with a target launch in late 2028. The SR-1 mission, named SkyFall, will demonstrate nuclear electric propulsion in space. Its nuclear fission reactor will activate 48 hours into the mission, after escaping Earth's gravity, to power electric thrusters for navigation to Mars. The spacecraft will deploy three Ingenuity-class helicopters equipped with cameras, ground-penetrating radar, and radios to survey potential human landing sites, search for subsurface water, and relay navigation data for future landers in the Martian atmosphere.

The SR-1 mission is designed to inform and enable the Lunar Reactor-1 (LR-1), a fission surface power system intended to sustain NASA's planned Moon Base during periods of darkness and in areas where solar power is insufficient. By launching a reactor first, without the complexities of a lunar landing, NASA aims to reduce nuclear flight risk, stimulate and qualify the supply chain, and develop the workforce required for future space nuclear missions.

Radioisotope Power Systems

NASA is also expanding its use of radioisotope power systems, which have been a power source for space missions since 1961, utilizing energy from the radioactive decay of isotopes. The Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon Titan, also scheduled for a 2028 launch, will use a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator and 24 Lightweight Radioisotope Heater Units to power and warm the rotorcraft. Additionally, NASA and DOE plan to provide 24 similar heater units to the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosalind Franklin Mars rover to maintain instrument temperatures in the Martian environment.

Urenco USA Expands Enrichment Capacity to Support US Nuclear Industry

Urenco USA is expanding its National Enrichment Facility in Eunice, New Mexico, which is currently the sole commercial uranium enrichment facility in the United States. The company aims to increase its domestic enrichment production capacity to over 7 million separative work units (SWU) within the next decade.

The expansion involves several phases. Between 2025 and 2027, 700,000 SWU of new capacity will be installed through the addition of eight centrifuge cascades in an existing building. The seventh cascade is expected to be installed later this year, with the final cascade operational by spring 2027.

Starting next year, Urenco USA plans to refurbish existing cascades at the facility. This initiative is part of ongoing capital investments designed to ensure a long-term, reliable supply of enrichment services for its customers.

In 2029, construction is scheduled to begin on a new enrichment plant at the facility. This new plant will add 2.1 million SWU of enrichment capacity. Initial cascades are projected to start production in 2032, with additional cascades installed through 2036.

Jody Blackshear, Managing Director of Urenco USA, stated that the company is delivering new capacity ahead of schedule and within budget to support the US nuclear industry and allied nations. This experience will inform future capacity programs as Urenco aims to increase its enrichment production by over 50% to meet the needs of both traditional and advanced reactors.