NASA’s Acting Chief Pushes to Fast-Track Nuclear Reactor on the Moon by 2030

NASA is gearing up to accelerate its plan to put a nuclear reactor on the moon, aiming to jumpstart the next chapter of space exploration despite tight budgets. Sean Duffy, acting NASA administrator and secretary of transportation, sent a directive pushing for a 100-kilowatt lunar reactor launch by 2030—more powerful than the 40-kilowatt model already in the works.

Duffy frames this move as key to “winning the second space race,” especially as China targets landing astronauts on the moon by the same year. The faster timeline also includes plans to replace the aging International Space Station with commercially run stations well before 2030 to keep the U.S. ahead in orbit.

A 100-kilowatt reactor could power roughly 80 U.S. homes, highlighting its potential to sustain longer lunar missions and future Mars expeditions. Yet, NASA hasn’t been explicit about exactly what the reactor would power, leaving room for speculation about lunar bases or heavy equipment.

Duffy stressed national security concerns, warning that “the first country to have a reactor could declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States,” referencing the joint Russian-Chinese space plans. Despite recent Pentagon setbacks with nuclear rocket programs, NASA remains committed to advancing nuclear power technology in space.

Bottom line: This push signals that despite budget cuts, nuclear power is central to America’s space ambitions—and NASA isn’t willing to let China take the lead.

I seriously thought this was from the Onion.

Source: UPI