US EditionTrump Administration Wants Nuclear Plant on Moon by 2030
NASA plans a 100-kilowatt lunar nuclear reactor to power a South Pole base and Mars missions, facing technical and budget challenges with a 2030 target, officials said.
- Under the Trump administration’s push, NASA issued a directive, with Sean Duffy instructing deployment of a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor to the lunar South Pole by 2030.
- Earlier this year, China and Russia announced plans to build a lunar reactor by 2035, aiming to use nuclear power on the moon to sustain life, according to Duffy.
- Facing harsh lunar conditions, NASA requires a 100-kilowatt reactor design to endure temperature swings from 250°F to minus 400°F, supported by a launch vehicle and precise lunar landing ability.
- Critics warned that many scientists and nuclear energy experts share skepticism over feasibility, calling the proposal “cock-eyed” and risking core NASA missions like earth science and climate observation.
- Building lunar infrastructure could cement resource access and exclude rivals, as Outer Space Treaty Article IX mandates due regard for other states when placing reactors on the moon.
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Plans to power a potential lunar base using a small nuclear reactor have been around for decades, but they have been relatively far from being realized. That could change now, as efforts to build a lunar base accelerate. The core could help overcome long periods of darkness at night.
·Čestlice, Czechia
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Right
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Right
50% Right
L 17%
C 33%
R 50%
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