According to the latest internal NASA documents, the US government is planning to establish a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. The ambitious project is intended to secure the energy supply for future manned missions and a new space station and marks the start of an unprecedented space race.
The most important facts in brief
- A nuclear reactor with an output of around 100 kW is to be transported to the moon and put into operation by 2030.
- The interim head of NASA, Sean Duffy, is expected to formally commission corresponding projects this week.
- Russia is pursuing similarly ambitious plans together with China for a moon base including a nuclear power supply.
- Private companies such as Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse and IX are to design the nuclear reactor.
Background and political drivers
The initiative is largely based on political decisions by the US government, with Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation and interim head of NASA, being seen as the driving force. He is soon to issue official instructions to entrust NASA with the construction of a lunar reactor and a new space station. President Trump is promoting the idea of a strong national presence in space and wants to fuel the rivalry with Russia and China. The overall concept envisages the controlled descent of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030 and the establishment of stationary US infrastructure in orbit and on the moon.
Technical requirements and objectives
The planned reactor is to deliver an output of around 100 kilowatts. This should be enough to supply a lunar base with electricity and heat. As early as 2022, NASA commissioned concepts for miniature reactors with an output of at least 40 kW, designed to run for over ten years. This was done in cooperation with companies such as Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse and IX. These reactors will be able to operate independently of solar energy, which is a decisive advantage, especially during the lunar nights, which can last up to two weeks.
Players and international dimension
In parallel to the US plans, Russia is working with China to develop the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), including reactor technology, as an energy source for a lunar base. The US projects could therefore be interpreted as part of a new geopolitical race – this time on the moon. A new space station in Earth orbit is intended to complement the lunar infrastructure and secure a leading role for the Americans.
Conclusion
The planned construction of a nuclear power plant on the moon marks a significant step in US energy and space policy. The combination of technical innovation and geopolitical calculation could enable a stable US presence in space by 2030. The target of a 100 kW reactor is ambitious. Accordingly, we will probably have to wait and see whether the plan is actually implemented. The price and time frame are still open, but the course seems to have been set – the race for the moon has begun.
