NASA plans to construct a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface.
In a significant development for lunar exploration, NASA is planning to install a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030. This reactor will provide a stable, around-the-clock power source for sustained lunar operations, particularly supporting the Artemis program's goal of establishing long-term bases on the lunar surface.
History and Justification
NASA has been developing smaller nuclear fission systems for years, with an aim for early 2030s lunar deployment. However, in August 2025, the agency accelerated efforts with a directive to develop a more powerful 100-kilowatt reactor by 2030.
The Moon's environment, with two-week-long nights, makes solar power unreliable for continuous operations. Nuclear power offers a renewable, stable source critical for habitats, rovers, robotics, and future mining.
A key driver for this push is geopolitical. China and Russia have announced joint plans to deploy their own lunar nuclear reactors by the mid-2030s. The first nation to place a reactor could declare a safety “keep-out zone” that controls valuable lunar resources such as areas with water ice, potentially excluding rivals.
NASA’s interim chief Sean Duffy has framed the effort as part of “winning the second space race” and ensuring the United States maintains strategic primacy on the Moon.
Impact on Artemis Program
The reactor is intended to underpin Artemis missions, enabling a continuous human presence by powering lunar bases planned around 2030. Reliable nuclear power supports Artemis goals to operate equipment and habitats during long lunar nights and establish infrastructure for sustained exploration, mining, and scientific research.
NASA is fast-tracking plans amid budget constraints, emphasizing the reactor’s role to “power everything,” including future mining operations critical to Artemis’s sustainability.
Broader Context and Considerations
The reactor plan involves selecting commercial partners and appointing a “nuclear power czar” to oversee development. However, there is some criticism that focusing resources on this nuclear reactor race might divert funds from scientific endeavors with direct Earth benefits.
This push demonstrates intensifying lunar competition involving the U.S., China, and Russia, reflecting broader geopolitical rivalry extending beyond Earth orbit.
The Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, developed by NASA for the Artemis program, is suitable for heavy cargo transport to the Moon, including a nuclear reactor with protective outer shell. The launch costs of the SLS rocket are approximately $2.5 billion (€2.17 billion).
The nuclear reactor plan is a key element of the Artemis program, a US initiative to return to the lunar surface. The schedule for the Artemis program has been shifted several times, and it is unclear whether US President Donald Trump will stick to the current plan.
The idea of installing a nuclear reactor on the Moon originated from Russia. NASA plans to request proposals from industry for a 100-kW reactor within 60 days. The nuclear reactor is expected to be operational by 2030. The Artemis program is a follow-up to the Apollo program.
- The push towards developing a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor by NASA is not only tied to the Artemis program's goal of establishing long-term bases on the lunar surface, but also serves as a strategic move in the broader geopolitical competition with China and Russia, who have announced plans for their own lunar nuclear reactors.
- The installation of this reactor on the Moon by 2030 could have significant implications for various sectors, including science, industry, and finance, through its potential to power habitats, rovers, robotics, and future mining operations, thereby enabling a continuous human presence on the lunar surface.
- Space-and-astronomy and aerospace industries could see significant growth, given the role of the reactor in powering the Artemis program's infrastructure for sustained exploration, mining, and scientific research, perhaps leading to breakthroughs in our understanding of the Moon and beyond.
