The U.S. Plans to Build a Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon

Sean Duffy — the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, who is also acting head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) — is expected to announce plans this week to accelerate the construction of a nuclear reactor on the Moon. This was reported on August 5 by the American publication Politico, citing sources.

According to the report, the agency's directive states that the first country to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon may “declare a restricted zone that would significantly limit U.S. activity.” The document also directs NASA to appoint a project leader within 60 days and to solicit proposals from companies for launching a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030. Previous plans were less ambitious and specific — for comparison, since 2022, the agency has funded research for creating a 40-kilowatt reactor on the Moon “by the early 2030s.”
In addition, according to the publication, Duffy proposed a directive to replace the International Space Station with several commercial stations. The agency plans to sign a contract with a manufacturer within six months. Companies such as Axiom Space, Vast, and Blue Origin have expressed interest in the project. It is noted that both initiatives could allow the U.S. to surpass Chinese projects aimed at exploring the Moon and Mars.

“This is about winning the second space race,” said a senior agency official.