NASA’s acting head, Sean Duffy, has unveiled an ambitious plan to put a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030. This is an indication that the lunar rivalry is entering a new, faster phase. Duffy spoke at a news conference on “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” and said that this project was an important part of a new “moon race” to give the United States an edge in strategy.
Duffy, who is also the Secretary of Transportation, stressed how important it is to have a reliable power supply on the moon’s surface. Solar panels are not good for long-term lunar outposts or bases since they don’t work during the Moon’s two-week-long nights. A nuclear reactor, on the other hand, would offer constant power, which is very useful in the lunar south pole, where there are thought to be large amounts of water-ice. These ice reserves are important for future exploration since they can be used to make rocket fuel and support life. So, getting this power source would be very important for boosting mission capabilities and making a strategic claim to territory.
The acts of other countries that travel to space make the plan more urgent. By the middle of the 2030s, China and Russia intend to create a joint lunar outpost with a nuclear power plant. U.S. officials are worried that the first country to successfully build a reactor could essentially claim that area, making it a “de facto ‘keep-out zone.'” Duffy said the south pole was the Moon’s “best” site because it has a lot of resources and specific crater rims always get sunlight. He stressed that America had to “get there first and claim that for America.”
The directive gives a clear, aggressive schedule for reaching this lofty aim. NASA has 30 days to choose a manager for the lunar reactor program and 60 days to ask companies for ideas. The goal is to have a 100-kilowatt reactor ready for flight by about 2030.
But this faster strategy has some big problems, especially when it comes to getting money. The planned budget for 2026 would set aside about $350 million to get the lunar fission power program off the ground. By 2027, that amount would rise to $500 million. This push for nuclear power comes at a time when NASA’s entire budget is about to be cut by a lot, which would make it the smallest in decades, according to analysts. The budget also suggests cutting science programs and the number of people working for the agency, which is a harsh fact that could make it harder to carry out this new, ambitious space competition.