NASA Plans Lunar Nuclear Reactor by 2030 Amid China, Russia Rivalry

NASA, under Acting Administrator Sean Duffy, is accelerating plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 to secure a strategic advantage over China and Russia, who have announced a joint lunar nuclear project targeting the mid-2030s. This reactor, with a minimum output of 100 kilowatts, aims to provide a reliable power source to sustain continuous lunar operations, overcoming the limitations of solar power during the lunar night. Despite significant budget cuts, NASA is prioritizing this initiative to maintain U.S. leadership in lunar and Martian exploration, with the objective of powering habitats, rovers, and mining activities. The first country to establish such infrastructure could potentially claim exclusive control over valuable lunar areas, raising important questions about space law and international cooperation. Historically, nuclear power sources have been used in space missions, and current international guidelines emphasize safety and transparency, but the deployment on the Moon could redefine geopolitical influence in space. Experts highlight that this development is less about an arms race and more about establishing critical infrastructure that supports long-term human presence and exploration beyond Earth.