The US really wants a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. 'Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power,' NASA chief says
Space • • business
Key Points:
- NASA aims to establish a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2030 to support lunar bases as part of its Artemis program.
- In December, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the construction of a lunar base and the launch of a nuclear reactor to the moon by 2030.
- NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate closely in meeting this deadline and advancing nuclear power capabilities for space exploration.
- Nuclear fission power is favored for lunar and deep-space missions due to its ability to provide continuous electricity without refueling and independence from environmental factors like sunlight.
- NASA and DOE have a long history of cooperation on space nuclear energy, with past missions such as Cassini and
