NASA Plans Lunar Nuclear Reactor by 2030 Amid Global Space Race

NASA plans to deploy a nuclear fission reactor on the lunar surface by 2030 to provide a steady and reliable power source that can sustain human presence through the Moon's 14-day-long nights. This 100 kW reactor is crucial for supporting life support systems, laboratories, and communications, enabling long-term lunar bases and future missions to Mars. The initiative, led by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, is part of a strategic effort to maintain U.S. leadership amid growing competition from China and Russia, who also aim to establish lunar nuclear power infrastructure by the mid-2030s. Site selection challenges, protection of the reactor from lunar dust and regolith plumes, and the legal implications of establishing exclusion zones under the Artemis Accords and the Outer Space Treaty remain key hurdles. Experts emphasize the importance of balanced governance, environmental safeguards, and international collaboration to prevent geopolitical conflicts from extending to the Moon. The project builds on existing NASA prototypes and marks a shift from experimental systems to operational technology designed to support permanent human presence on the Moon.