Why the US Is Racing to Build a Nuclear Reactor on the Moon

NASA aims to build a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, an ambitious goal that could revolutionize space exploration by providing a substantial and reliable power source for lunar bases and future missions across the solar system. This initiative revives decades-old ambitions to scale up nuclear power in space and is partly driven by geopolitical competition, as China and Russia have announced plans to deploy a lunar reactor by the mid-2030s. Securing the first operational reactor on the Moon could allow a country to establish exclusive zones, potentially limiting other nations' activities, including NASA’s Artemis program intended to establish a permanent presence at the lunar South Pole. Experts believe the 2030 timeline is challenging but feasible given current technology. The main obstacles have historically been political will and mission demand rather than technical capability. Recent policy shifts, including NASA’s selection of nuclear power as the primary energy source for crewed Mars missions, combined with growing private sector interest from companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin,