A fission power source on the Moon. Credit NASA
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have renewed their long-running partnership to develop nuclear power systems for use on the Moon.
The two agencies recently signed a new agreement that confirms this cooperation. The plan supports the goal of keeping the United States a leader in space by placing nuclear reactors on the Moon and in space, including building a reactor on the lunar surface by 2030. The goal is to support NASA’s Artemis missions and future missions to Mars.
NASA and DOE plan to deploy a fission power system that can safely and efficiently produce large amounts of electricity for many years without refueling. A nuclear reactor on the Moon would provide constant power for long-term missions, working day and night and in extreme temperatures, even when sunlight is not available.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (left) and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (right). Credit NASA/John Kraus
“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,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power. 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.”
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