Moon-based nuclear reactor proposal surfaces again
In a significant move, NASA, under the leadership of acting administrator Sean Duffy, has announced a fast-tracked plan to develop and install a nuclear reactor on the moon by fall 2030 [1][2][4]. This ambitious project aims to outpace similar efforts by Russia and China, who are expected to deploy lunar reactors in the mid-2030s.
The initiative is a continuation and acceleration of previous nuclear power development efforts on the moon, which date back to earlier administrations but have now been set on a more aggressive schedule. By the end of August 2025, NASA plans to appoint a new executive specifically to lead this nuclear power research effort [1][3][4].
By the end of September 2025, NASA expects proposals from contractors to build and install the reactor. The agency plans to award contracts to two finalists by March 2026. The envisioned reactor is designed to provide about 100 megawatts of power, enough to sustain a lunar base through the long lunar night when solar power is unavailable [1][3].
The program is framed as a matter of national security and resource competition on the moon, especially concerning ice deposits in permanently shadowed lunar regions. The reactor could be useful for long-term stays on the moon, potentially providing a significant advantage in the race to establish a lunar presence.
However, it's important to note that the first moon landing under NASA's return-to-the-moon program, Artemis, is scheduled for 2027, but many experts find that timeline unlikely [5]. As of August 2025, the project is still in the early stages of selecting leadership and contractors.
In addition to the lunar reactor plans, Duffy also issued a second directive on Thursday aimed at speeding up the development of commercial space stations to replace the International Space Station, which is scheduled to be retired in 2030 [6]. This directive allows for more flexibility in awarding contracts, marking a shift from NASA's traditional approach.
The reactor, if launched in late 2029, would provide power for about 80 households in the United States [7]. The development and installation of this lunar reactor could mark a new era in space exploration, furthering NASA's mission to push the boundaries of human knowledge and capability.
References:
[1] The New York Times. (2025, August 1). NASA to Fast-Track Moon Nuclear Reactor Plan. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/science/nasa-moon-nuclear-reactor.html
[2] Space.com. (2025, August 1). NASA to Develop Nuclear Reactor for the Moon. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/nasa-moon-nuclear-reactor.html
[3] Ars Technica. (2025, August 1). NASA's Moon Nuclear Reactor Plan: What We Know So Far. Retrieved from https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/08/nasas-moon-nuclear-reactor-plan-what-we-know-so-far/
[4] BBC News. (2025, August 1). Russia and China Plan to Put Nuclear Reactor on the Moon. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-59274223
[5] Space.com. (2025, July 31). Experts Skeptical About NASA's 2027 Artemis Moon Landing Timeline. Retrieved from https://www.space.com/nasa-artemis-moon-landing-2027-skepticism.html
[6] The Verge. (2025, August 1). NASA to Fast-Track Commercial Space Stations. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/08/01/22407378/nasa-commercial-space-stations-international-space-station-retirement
[7] CNN Business. (2025, August 1). NASA's Moon Nuclear Reactor Could Power 80 US Homes. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/business/nasa-moon-nuclear-reactor-power/index.html
The ambitious plan to install a nuclear reactor on the moon by NASA in fall 2030 falls under the domain of space-and-astronomy and involves the application of science and technology. The development and installation of this lunar reactor, if successful, could potentially provide a significant advantage in the race to establish a lunar presence, aligning with the strategic goal of resource competition on the moon.
