NASA is positioning a nuclear power source on the lunar surface.
The space race of the 21st century is heating up, as NASA, China, and Russia are now competing to build nuclear reactors on the Moon. The goal is to provide sustainable power for future lunar bases.
NASA has announced plans to deploy the first nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, accelerating its timeline to surpass the Russia-China joint project, which aims to have a lunar nuclear power plant operational by 2033-2035. This ambitious project is part of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface by mid-2027.
The U.S. space agency's reactor is expected to have a capacity of 100 kilowatts and will initially be powered by solar panels. However, during the lunar night, which lasts about two weeks, the reactor will take over, ensuring a continuous energy supply.
Meanwhile, Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, is planning to build a nuclear energy facility on the Moon in collaboration with China. The construction of the facility is planned to take place following a testing phase, with the intention of establishing a foundation for future lunar bases.
The competition between the three space-faring nations is not just about technology but also about strategic control over the Moon's resources and establishing who sets the legal and territorial framework for lunar activities. This could potentially affect access to vast lunar minerals.
NASA is partnering with commercial companies to develop more powerful reactor designs, moving beyond preliminary concepts toward a deployable system within five years. The agency's chief, Sean Duffy, confirmed the plans during an event focused on drones.
Russia and China, on the other hand, signed agreements in 2021 and 2025 to jointly construct a nuclear power station on the Moon by 2035. The project supports lunar research and habitation as part of their broader lunar exploration goals, including a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
The race to the Moon's surface is not new for NASA, which landed the first man on the Moon in 1969. However, this new race is about more than just exploration. It's about establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon and securing leadership in lunar exploration.
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In light of the ongoing space race, NASA is planned to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, embedded within its Artemis program, aiming to extend sustainable power for future lunar bases. This endeavor is a significant step forward in the realm of science and technology.
In a joint collaboration, Russia and China aim to have a nuclear power plant operational on the Moon between 2033-2035, an ambition that spearheads their space-and-astronomy exploration goals, including a crewed lunar landing by 2030. This venture underscores their investment in advanced technology for power generation.
