NASA hastens to place nuclear reactors on the Moon and Mars
NASA Accelerates Development of Lunar Nuclear Reactor
NASA is moving forward with its ambitious plan to develop a 100-kilowatt nuclear fission reactor for powering lunar bases by 2030. This project, part of NASA’s Fission Surface Power program, aims to support sustained human presence on the Moon and eventual crewed missions to Mars.
The timeline for this project is as follows: - NASA announced its plans to develop a lunar nuclear reactor "within a decade" in 2021. - A target delivery of the reactor to the launch pad is expected by early 2030s. - Deployment of the reactor is aimed around 2029-2030. - The reactor is scheduled to be launched to the moon in 2030.
The reactor, which generates about as much power as a U.S. household uses in 3.5 days, will provide energy for lunar habitats, scientific instruments, and surface operations. This will enable longer missions and reduce dependence on solar power, which has limitations on the Moon and Mars.
The objectives of this project include enabling sustainable human habitation and operations on the Moon, powering fuel production facilities for Mars and beyond, supporting continuous scientific research and infrastructure on the Moon, and establishing American leadership in an emerging space race focused on strategic lunar resources and territory.
NASA’s push for nuclear power is strategically and technologically ambitious, aiming to set a precedent for extraterrestrial energy infrastructure and to secure a leadership position over Chinese and Russian competitors. China and Russia have jointly announced plans for a lunar nuclear reactor by 2035, five years later than NASA’s target. The first country to deploy such reactors could assert control over key lunar regions, potentially restricting rival nations’ activities.
NASA's accelerated schedule and partnerships with aerospace and nuclear firms like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BWXT, and Westinghouse demonstrate a strong institutional and industrial commitment to fast-tracking nuclear power in space. The U.S. approach focuses on small, modular fission reactors optimized for reliability and autonomy, a key advantage for remote operations compared to traditional reactor models.
The push for nuclear power is framed as crucial to outpacing a joint Chinese-Russian effort. China has proven more adept at meeting its deadlines in recent years compared to the Artemis program. However, the timeline for Artemis 3, the first planned crewed landing, has slipped to 2027.
The idea of using nuclear energy off-planet is not new. Unlike solar power, fission systems can operate around the clock, providing invaluable benefits during the weeks-long lunar nights or Martian dust storms. The plan assumes the use of a "heavy class lander" that carries up to 15 metric tons of mass.
The NASA directive, signed by acting NASA chief Sean Duffy and US transportation secretary, calls for the appointment of a nuclear power czar to select two commercial proposals within six months. The target is a "readiness to launch by the first quarter of FY30," which is late 2029. This push for nuclear power is the latest sign of NASA's shift towards prioritizing human space exploration over scientific research under President Donald Trump’s second term.
- The United States, through NASA, is racing against China and Russia in a strategic space race, as all three nations have plans to develop lunar nuclear reactors.
- The push for nuclear power by NASA is not just a technological endeavor, but also a political one, aiming to establish American leadership in the exploration and control of strategic lunar resources and territory.
- In the realm of science and space-and-astronomy, the development of lunar nuclear reactors by NASA, Russia, and China signifies a significant leap in off-planet energy infrastructure, providing benefits such as uninterrupted power during lunar nights and Mars dust storms.
