Nuclear reactors on the Moon move closer to reality

Plans to place nuclear reactors on the moon by 2030 moved forward this week. Governments now see steady power as the key to staying on the lunar surface for long periods.

The new space race no longer focuses only on landing missions. Countries want permanent outposts that can support science, industry, and future travel deeper into space.

Several alliances have formed. Russia works with China. France partners with Italy. The United States plans to act largely on its own.

NASA said it will work with the Department of Energy to prepare a lunar nuclear reactor by 2030. The agency said constant power will allow construction, long-term operations, and preparation for missions to Mars.

The U.S. first signaled its intent last summer. China and Russia made similar announcements around the same time. Later, an executive order directed the creation of a permanent lunar outpost and the launch of a reactor within the decade.

This week, NASA and the Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement sets the framework for joint work on reactor design, testing, and deployment on the moon.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the effort follows earlier national projects that combined science and engineering to achieve major goals. He said the agreement aims to extend that record into space.

The idea of nuclear power on the moon is not new. NASA previously ran a fission surface power program. It aimed to place a 40-kilowatt reactor on the lunar surface.

A fission reactor generates heat by splitting atoms, then converts that heat into electricity. On Earth, these systems rely on gravity and stable temperatures, conditions the moon does not offer.

Low gravity changes how liquid coolants move inside a reactor. Extreme temperature swings between lunar day and night add further strain on equipment and materials.

Earlier studies grouped contractors into teams to explore workable designs. Those efforts narrowed the likely options for future reactors.

Engineers now favor high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors. These systems use gas instead of liquid to carry heat, which reduces risks in low gravity environments.

Several aerospace and nuclear technology companies took part in earlier work. Their experience positions them as potential contributors as plans for nuclear reactors on the moon move closer to reality and long-term lunar habitation becomes more achievable.