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NASA Plans Nuclear Reactor on Moon by 2030
NASA and DOE aim to deliver a nuclear fission reactor by 2030 to provide continuous power for lunar missions, supporting Artemis and future Mars exploration efforts.
- NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy announced on Tuesday they signed a memorandum of understanding to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit by 2030.
- Under the plan, solar power limitations on the Moon and 14-day lunar nights drive the push, following President Donald Trump's executive order titled "Ensuring American Space Superiority" last year.
- Engineers describe the systems as nuclear fission surface power units with a uranium reactor core about the size of a paper towel roll, providing at least 40 kilowatts of power, enough to run 30 households for a decade.
- Continuous, reliable power would allow NASA to sustain a long-term presence on the Moon, support the Artemis program and future Mars missions, and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright called it a landmark achievement.
- Significant engineering will be required, as a working launch vehicle and lunar landing capability are needed, and experts remain divided on whether the 2030 timeline is achievable.
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Total News Sources84
Leaning Left6Leaning Right13Center34Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
11%
C 64%
R 25%
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