The United States space agency, NASA, aims to make the nation the pioneer in equipping the moon with a nuclear reactor.
NASA has accelerated its plans to place a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, in a move aimed at maintaining competitiveness with China and Russia in lunar exploration. This acceleration was announced by Sean Duffy, the interim NASA administrator and US transport secretary, who emphasised the importance of deploying this technology ahead of its international rivals, who plan a lunar reactor by 2035.
The new directive calls for the project to be ready within five years, a significant departure from NASA's earlier goal of developing a reactor by the early 2030s. The proposed nuclear reactor would support a future lunar base, particularly at the lunar south pole, and could also power Mars missions and help strengthen national security in space.
The project builds on NASA’s Fission Surface Power Project, initially aimed at a 40-kilowatt system, now scaled up to 100 kilowatts under the accelerated plan. The estimated energy needs for long-term operations on the lunar surface are at least 100kWe, according to NASA's estimates.
There is debate over space law implications, such as "keep-out" zones which might restrict activity around the lunar base; however, experts note such zones are temporary notifications and do not confer sovereignty.
This acceleration is part of a broader push to advance U.S. lunar presence and outcompete international rivals in the ongoing space race. The United States is racing against China and Russia to develop a nuclear reactor on the moon by the mid-2030s.
NASA will seek more proposals within 60 days, and at least two companies will be awarded a contract within six months of the agency's request for proposals, according to the directive. The directive also changes the way NASA awards contracts by adding some flexibility.
The aging International Space Station has faced issues with leaks in recent years and is expected to be retired by 2030. Duffy, who is also the Secretary of Transportation, has also issued a second directive aiming to expedite the creation of a commercial space station to replace the International Space Station.
The Artemis program still has several milestones to reach to accomplish its target. The Artemis III mission, planned for 2027, aims to return humans to the moon for the first time in more than five decades. If another country achieves this first, they could potentially establish a "keep-out zone" that could hinder the US's goal of establishing a presence on the moon through NASA's Artemis program.
Politico was the first to report the new directive, while the directive dated July 31 was obtained by CNN. The fission surface power project aims to provide the moon with at least 40 kilowatts of power, enough to continuously run 30 households for 10 years. Energy sustainability is crucial for future lunar and potentially Martian missions, as stated by Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. Duffy's orders call for an executive to lead the program within 30 days, and this could accelerate efforts to create a commercial space station.
The proposed nuclear reactor, with an increased capacity of 100 kilowatts, is part of NASA's plan to support a future lunar base and potentially power Mars missions, as well as strengthen national security in space, following the agency's accelerated timeline. Aiming to outcompete China and Russia in the ongoing space race, NASA will seek more proposals within 60 days, with at least two companies expected to be awarded a contract within six months.
