NASA’s Bold Plan: Moon Nuclear Power by 2030 Amid Global Rivalry

NASA is making its most ambitious leap toward lunar permanence yet: a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor, set to generate constant power for America’s first Moon base by 2030.

Announced by interim administrator Sean Duffy, the plan aims to cement U.S. leadership in what officials call the new “second space race” against China and Russia.

Race Against Global Rivals

Intelligence reports reveal China and Russia are jointly building a lunar research base with nuclear power by 2035, raising urgency in Washington. The May 2025 accord between Beijing and Moscow has spurred U.S. policymakers to accelerate their timeline, hoping to claim strategic Moon regions first.

NASA’s directive, issued July 31, calls for the new reactor to supply energy for Artemis bases. Duffy warned that the first nation to install nuclear power could establish zones barring access by others, impacting resource claims and long-term science missions.

Did you know?
The Moon’s night lasts about 14 Earth days, plunging temperatures to minus 173°C, making solar power unreliable and nuclear energy crucial for survival.

Engineering the Moon’s First Reactor

The targeted 100 kW reactor dwarfs previous designs, doubling the output NASA studied in earlier contracts. That much power could run 80 American homes or all systems required for human presence and exploration in the harsh lunar environment.

NASA will name a fission surface power executive within a month and issue solicitations for private proposals within 60 days. Two finalist vendors will be selected by March 2026, an unusually aggressive timeline for a mission of this scope.

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Why Nuclear Power Is Non-Negotiable

The Moon’s two-week-long nights plunge habitats into darkness and deep cold, while solar panels deliver no energy. Nuclear fission is the only proven solution for continuous, reliable power vital for sustaining life support, science equipment, and resource extraction systems.

Duffy described the technology as “indispensable” for America’s plan to establish and maintain a permanent lunar presence. Supporters argue that leadership in lunar nuclear power will also give the U.S. an edge with Mars ambitions, commercial mining, and deep space defense.

International Stakes and Political Hurdles

China’s Wu Weiren, the lead architect of the lunar project, claimed Russia has a “natural advantage” in nuclear space expertise. Russian officials have previously flown nuclear-powered satellites and plan to replicate this success on the lunar surface.

U.S. officials assert that relinquishing "ice-rich" lunar regions to Beijing or Moscow is not a viable option, despite dwindling NASA budgets and shifting political dynamics. Duffy and Artemis planners point to the Moon’s south pole as both a target and potential flashpoint for future competition.

The Future of Lunar Power

NASA’s decision signals the growing role of nuclear energy in off-Earth exploration. The success or failure of the 2030 reactor deadline will likely influence not just who controls access to the Moon’s resources but also who has a say in humanity’s next steps across the solar system.