NASA Plans Nuclear Reactors for Moon to Boost Artemis Program

The United States is actively advancing its space ambitions by developing nuclear power reactors for lunar missions, aiming to sustain astronauts through long lunar nights and support permanent bases, with plans to deploy a 100-kilowatt reactor by 2029 or 2030. This initiative is part of a broader effort to maintain American leadership in the space race, especially as China expands its own space program and diplomacy, including sending its first astronaut to the Moon before 2030 and fostering global partnerships. The Trump administration has issued executive orders to streamline regulations and boost the commercial space sector, addressing infrastructure bottlenecks and regulatory fragmentation to enhance U.S. competitiveness and economic growth in space technologies. Meanwhile, China is escalating its strategic capabilities with systems like the HQ-29 anti-satellite missile, aiming to challenge U.S. military dominance in space and complicate power projection in critical regions. Despite the progress by U.S. companies such as SpaceX, experts emphasize the need for a coherent economic strategy to clearly define public and private sector roles to sustain American space supremacy. Together, these developments illustrate a multifaceted space competition involving technological innovation, military strategy, commercial growth, and diplomatic engagement.