Our Technology Suite

Powering the Final Frontier with the Universal Power & Propulsion Drive (UPPD)

At Q Interstellar, we are redefining how humanity moves through space and establishes off-world infrastructure. Our Universal Power & Propulsion Drive (UPPD) is a thorium molten salt micro reactor platform engineered for dual-mode space propulsion and planetary surface power generation. Built for scalability, safety, and unmatched energy density, UPPD represents a singular leap forward in nuclear propulsion and remote energy systems.

One System.

Three Missions. Infinite Possibilities.

The UPPD is more than a reactor—it's a universal power core for deep-space exploration:

  • Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP): High-thrust, high-temperature direct propellant heating for rapid maneuvers.

  • Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP): Continuous, high-efficiency thrust via electric drives powered by reactor heat.

  • Surface Power Generation: Multi-megawatt electric output to power lunar, Martian, and deep-space outposts for decades.

This integrated approach simplifies mission architecture, lowers launch mass, and increases mission flexibility.

Reactor Output and Performance:

  • Thermal Power: 50 MWt

  • Electric Power Output: 20 MWe

  • Efficiency: 45%

  • Operational Life: ~60 years

  • Grid Voltage: 13-25 kV

  • Scalability: Modular, easily expandable

Propulsion Capabilities:

  • Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP):

    • High-thrust, short-duration burns

    • Core temperatures: 2500–3000 K

    • Propellant: Hydrogen

    • Ideal for Earth departure, orbital insertion, rapid maneuvers

  • Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP):

    • Continuous, high-efficiency thrust

    • Specific impulse (Isp): 2,000–10,000 seconds

    • Thruster types: Ion, Hall-effect, Magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD)

    • Optimal for long-distance interplanetary cruising

Surface Power Generation:

  • Reliable, multi-year surface power for lunar, Martian, and deep-space habitats

  • Provides critical energy for habitats, life support, and scientific research

  • Passive safety mechanisms and emergency shutdown capabilities

UPPD Key Specifications

Advanced Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Technology

Our system is built on proven molten salt reactor (MSR) technology, evolved for the extremes of space:

Fuel & Core Design:

  • Molten salt fuel: LiF-ThF₄-based salts with U-233 bred in situ.

  • Low-pressure, high-temperature operation: Up to 900°C steady-state, 2,500–3,000 K in NTP bursts.

  • Negative temperature coefficients: Intrinsically self-regulating reactivity.

  • Modular, replaceable core design: Built for longevity and upgradeability.

Safety Systems:

  • Freeze plug drain tanks for passive emergency shutdown.

  • Layered shielding with tungsten, boron carbide, and polyethylene-boron composites.

  • Shadow shielding for crewed flight and surface installations.

  • Launch-safe containment strategies, including subcritical launch configurations.

Three-Phase Deployment Roadmap (2033–2039)

We are rolling out UPPD across a structured, capital-efficient roadmap:

Phase 1

Lunar Surface Power (2033)

  • 50 MWt / 20 MWe molten salt microreactor.

  • 60+ year core lifespan.

  • Grid voltage output: 13–25 kV.

  • Tele-operated robotic deployment and dust-hardened systems.

Phase 2

Cislunar & Mars NEP Transport (2036)

  • Integration with electric thrusters for Mars-bound cargo and crewed ferry missions.

  • Continuous NEP operation validated in space.

  • AI-guided autonomy and power regulation.

Phase 3

NEP + NTP Integration for Deep Space (2039)

  • Full hybrid propulsion capability.

  • Fast 2–3 week Mars transfers.

  • In-space refueling and modular expansion.

  • ISRU-enabled surface support and rapid mobility.

Reactor Advantages

Efficiency & Output

  • Thermal efficiency: Up to 45% via Brayton or Rankine cycles.

  • Power density: Extremely high due to molten salt and thorium synergy.

  • Waste heat management: Advanced radiators and thermal rejection systems.

Materials & Engineering

  • Structural alloys: Hastelloy-N, Inconel 617, SiC ceramics.

  • Coatings: Boron nitride, yttria, WC for NTP resilience.

  • Liquid metals (NaK, Li) & intermediate loops for NTP energy transfer.

Mission Adaptability

  • Surface, in-orbit, or mobile deployment.

  • Offline reprocessing and periodic refurbishment design.

  • Autonomous AI-driven control and diagnostics.

Surface Power for Lunar and Martian Bases

The UPPD system easily scales for long-duration base operations:

  • Consistent megawatt-scale output, unaffected by local dust storms or night cycles.

  • Terrain-integrated shielding (e.g., regolith burial).

  • ISRU-compatible waste heat for water electrolysis, oxygen generation, and material processing.

  • Multi-decade operation, eliminating frequent servicing or crew interaction.

Built on Proven Science, Pushed by New Frontiers

We stand on the shoulders of pioneering programs:

  • MSRE (Oak Ridge, 1960s): Thorium molten salt reactor validation.

  • AVR (Germany): Thorium TRISO fuel, high-temperature endurance.

  • SNAP-10A & BES-5: Operational space nuclear systems.

  • NASA Kilopower, China TMSR: Proof of modern interest and feasibility.

UPPD builds on these legacies by combining them with next-generation AI, high-fidelity modeling, advanced materials, and space mission engineering.