US EditionINL Report Outlines US Space Nuclear Dominance by 2030
NASA aims to deploy a 500-kilowatt-electric nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 to enable continuous lunar operations and maintain U.S. leadership in space nuclear power.
- On February 12, 2026, Idaho National Laboratory released Weighing the Future: Strategic Options for U.S. Space Nuclear Leadership, urging accelerated development and NASA's lunar reactor goal by fiscal year 2030.
- Historically, the U.S. has used radioisotope power systems since the 1960s, but the report warns the pace must accelerate to maintain leadership in space nuclear development.
- The report outlines three paths: a 100–500 kilowatts electric option led by NASA and Department of War, public‑private partnerships with two sub‑100 kWe projects, and an under 1 kilowatt electric radioisotope demonstration.
- INL will play a pivotal role facilitating space nuclear power strategies, coordinating national laboratories and using the Transient Reactor Test Facility for critical testing and hosting reactor technologies.
- Technical experts note that `The big differences are mass, temperature and component endurance`, while design goals require 10 years without maintenance and high operating temperatures; Sebastian Corbisiero says `It might sound like science fiction, but it's not`.
13 Articles
13 Articles
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From The DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory: “Extraterrestrial strategy – How the US could achieve energy dominance in space”
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US Launches Ambitious 500kW Lunar Nuclear Reactor for 2030 Space Power Plan
NASA is on the verge of a potentially transformative mission: installing a powerful 500-kilowatt-electric (kWe) nuclear reactor on the Moon by the end of 2030. This ambitious step is not just a leap in technology but a tactical maneuver to secure long-term U.S. energy dominance in the realm of space exploration and exploitation. The reactor, …
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