NASA Wants to Build First Nuclear Reactor on the Moon

America Wants to Power the Moon with a Nuclear Reactor

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In the past, space exploration was about getting to the Moon first. Now, it’s about staying there.

As global competition in space grows, the U.S. is speeding up its plans.

This time, the focus is on nuclear power. The goal is simple: build the first nuclear reactor on the Moon, writes Ziare.

A Firm Timeline from NASA

NASA, under new leadership, is preparing to move fast. Sean Duffy, the recently appointed acting administrator of NASA, is expected to announce the plan this week.

Duffy was chosen by Donald Trump after the previous nominee, Jared Isaacman, was pulled out following a disagreement involving Elon Musk.

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Documents show that NASA is setting a firm timeline for launching a 100-kilowatt reactor. The target is the year 2030.

This power source would help future astronauts survive and work on the lunar surface.

There’s a bigger reason behind this push. A senior NASA official said this is about “winning the second space race.” If another country, like China, gets there first, they could limit access to certain areas.

That would be a problem. China and Russia have already announced a joint lunar project.

NASA’s plan includes finding industry partners. Companies will be invited to submit their ideas for building and launching the reactor.

A Dream of a Commercial Space Station

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The agency also wants to assign a leader for the project and get feedback from companies within the next two months.

The agency is also shifting focus on replacing the aging International Space Station.

The new directive says NASA should work faster by changing how it awards contracts. The goal is to have a commercial space station in orbit by 2030.

Several companies are already in the race to build new stations. These include Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and Vast.

But lawmakers have warned that NASA needs to act faster to support these projects with funding.