[JumpCrisscross]

> Solar PV linked to battery storage is the obvious energy source for a moonbase

It's not serious with chemical propulsion and the Moon's day/night cycle. Put another way, if one team uses nukes and is, as a result, power unconstrained, while the other spends all its energy launching solar panels and batteries to keep life support online, it's obvious who's going to be doing any science.

> All reactors require coolant circulation and water is going to be among the most valuable commodities on the moon

Sodium and sterling, no water [1]. There is a reason even NASA is only seriously considering nuclear power [2].

[1] https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/tech-demo-missions-pr...

[2] https://www.nasa.gov/tdm/fission-surface-power/