Having established its capability to transport humans safely to the moon and back, NASA is setting its sights on an even grander ambition: placing nuclear reactors in orbit and on the lunar surface by 2030. This move reflects a significant shift from reliance on solar power, which can be intermittent, towards more reliable and powerful energy sources.

At present, space instruments operate using solar panels. However, for complex missions and permanent bases, continuous power is a necessity. Reactors offer this through nuclear fission, generating steady energy for years and enabling advanced technologies like electric propulsion, making them the ideal solution for long-term lunar habitation or deep-space exploration.

The US government has outlined plans to develop both medium-power reactors in orbit by 2028 and a functional large reactor on the moon by 2030. NASA and the Department of Defense will collaborate to meet these goals, with the Department of Energy ensuring that all necessary infrastructure, fuel, and safety features are in place.

The memorandum specifies that each reactor should be modular, scalable, and capable of producing at least 20 kilowatts of electricity for three years in orbit and five on the lunar surface. Designs should eventually ramp up to a capacity of 100 kWe, with initial prototypes expected within a year.

While this initiative is marked by technological ambition, it also reflects geopolitical competition. With China pushing its own space programme, the US aims to lead in advanced energy technologies for space exploration and habitation, setting the stage for a new era of lunar activity.