Lunar Nuclear Power System Could Reach Moon by 2030

Lunar nuclear power could soon be a reality thanks to plans from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a nuclear reactor on the moon. 

Reaching the Moon

In January, the DoE and NASA announced plans to work together to advance the research and development of a fission surface power system for use on the moon and future NASA missions to Mars. The two agencies signed a memorandum of understanding to solidify the collaboration in support of President Trump’s American space superiority plan.

The pair aim to deploy nuclear reactors to the moon and in orbit and build a lunar surface reactor by the end of the decade. This supports Trump’s plan to establish the United States as a world leader in space exploration and commerce. 

The U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, stated, “History shows that when American science and innovation come together, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo Mission, our nation leads the world to reach new frontiers once thought impossible.” Wright added, “This agreement continues that legacy.”

Meanwhile, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said of the move, “Under President Trump’s national space policy, America is committed to returning to the Moon, building the infrastructure to stay, and making the investments required for the next giant leap to Mars and beyond.” 

Isaacman added, “Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power. This agreement enables closer collaboration between NASA and the Department of Energy to deliver the capabilities necessary to usher in the Golden Age of space exploration and discovery.”

The two agencies hope their partnership will help advance the development of nuclear fission technology to deploy safe, efficient, and abundant power that will be able to operate for years without the need to refuel.

The Race to the Moon

NASA had previously announced the aim of fast-tracking plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, in 2025. The plan forms part of a larger strategy to develop a permanent base for humans to live on the lunar surface. Russia and China reportedly have similar plans for lunar development. In May last year, China and Russia announced plans to establish an automated nuclear power station on the moon by 2035. Nuclear energy is viewed as the most effective way to generate power on the lunar surface, as it is more reliable than solar and battery power. 

Safety concerns surrounding the launch of radioactive material through the Earth’s atmosphere must be considered, and any country that aims to launch a nuclear reactor will, theoretically, require international approval and a special license. 

Some questioned whether NASA would stick with its lunar plans, seeing as the Trump administration cut 24% to NASA’s budget for 2026. However, NASA’s partnership with the DoE suggests that its plans for lunar development may be politically driven, as they support Trump’s geopolitical aims to compete with Chinese and Russian space programs.

Global Cooperation Could Support Accelerated Progress in Space

Simeon Barber, a planetary science specialist at the United Kingdom’s Open University, voiced concerns about a unilateral approach to space exploration. 

“It seems that we’re going back into the old first space race days of competition, which, from a scientific perspective, is a little bit disappointing and concerning,” said Barber. “Competition can create innovation, but if there’s a narrower focus on national interest and on establishing ownership, then you can lose sight of the bigger picture, which is exploring the solar system and beyond,” he added. 

In 2020, seven countries signed a deal to establish principles on how states should cooperate on the Moon’s surface. The agreement includes the creation of safety zones. 

If one country is to develop a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface and establish a safety zone around it, it is as good as saying that that country owns that piece of the moon. This reflects the suggestion by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, last August, that the first country to have a reactor could “declare a keep-out zone”.  

Technological Advancement Needed

To achieve lunar nuclear power, the U.S. must accelerate the development of nuclear fission reactors, as well as make advancements in space travel. 

NASA’s Artemis 2 is expected to launch on 6th February, propelling astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than half a century. If successful, the voyage could set a record for travel beyond the far side of the moon, with plans to achieve the farthest distance ever traveled from Earth by humans. This mission will be followed by the launch of Artemis 3, which will carry an as-yet-unnamed crew of four, scheduled for a lunar landing in mid-2027.While significant progress has been made, it has taken a long time to get here. The NASA space launch system rocket being used in the Artemis 2 and 3 missions is years behind schedule and significantly over budget. Therefore, the success or failure of NASA’s upcoming space missions could shape the timeline for greater space exploration and the potential for developing lunar nuclear power.

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