NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy reaffirm plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, aligning with President Donald Trump’s directive to support permanent lunar bases under the Artemis program.
NASA and Department of Energy announced Tuesday that they signed a memorandum of understanding strengthening cooperation to meet the 2030 deadline. The agreement focuses on developing a nuclear fission system capable of powering crewed lunar operations for extended periods.
Under an executive order issued by Trump in December, the United States aims to begin construction of a sustained human presence on the moon by 2030. The order also calls for a nuclear reactor to be ready for launch to the lunar surface by that time, citing the need for reliable power beyond Earth.
NASA, Energy Department Formalize Lunar Nuclear Plan
The new agreement outlines roles and responsibilities for NASA and Department of Energy as they work to deliver what officials describe as critical infrastructure for future exploration. It builds on ongoing efforts to design compact nuclear reactors suited for space environments.
“Under President Trump’s national space policy, America is committed to returning to the moon, building the infrastructure to stay and making the investments required for the next giant leap to Mars and beyond,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement.
Isaacman said nuclear energy is central to those ambitions. “Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power,” he said. “This agreement enables closer collaboration between NASA and the Department of Energy to deliver the capabilities necessary to usher in the Golden Age of space exploration and discovery.”
NASA has not announced a final reactor design or launch vehicle, but agency officials say the system must be small, durable and capable of operating safely in the moon’s harsh environment.
Nuclear Power Seen as Key to Sustained Moon Presence
Advocates for lunar exploration say nuclear fission offers advantages over solar power for long-term missions. Unlike solar arrays, nuclear systems can produce electricity continuously and are not affected by the moon’s two-week-long nights or extreme temperature swings.
A reactor could support life-support systems, scientific experiments and communications for one or more lunar bases, according to NASA. The agency plans to establish those outposts as part of Artemis, its program to return astronauts to the moon and prepare for future missions to Mars.
NASA has said reliable power is a limiting factor for deep-space exploration. A fission reactor could operate for years without refueling, making it suitable for remote locations such as the lunar south pole, where Artemis missions are expected to focus.
The announcement comes amid growing international interest in the moon, including plans by China and other nations to expand their lunar capabilities.
Decades long Partnership Builds on Space Nuclear History
NASA and Department of Energy have collaborated on space nuclear systems for more than fifty years. Many robotic missions, including the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn and the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars, use radioisotope thermoelectric generators to produce power.
Those systems differ from the proposed lunar reactor, which would rely on fission rather than radioactive decay. Still, officials say the long partnership provides a foundation for the new effort.
“History shows that when American science and innovation come together, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo mission, our nation leads the world to reach new frontiers once thought impossible,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said in a statement. “This agreement continues that legacy.”
NASA has said additional technical reviews and safety assessments will be required before a reactor is launched. The agency has not released cost estimates or a detailed timeline beyond the 2030 target.
