NASA aims for 2030 launch of 100 kW moon reactor to compete with China

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to announce accelerated plans this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, marking his first significant initiative as interim NASA administrator.

While NASA has previously explored the idea of a lunar reactor, this new plan establishes a clearer timeline, as revealed in documents obtained by POLITICO. The announcement comes amid a substantial budget cut for the agency and highlights Duffy’s intent to influence NASA policy, despite criticism over his dual roles.

“It is about winning the second space race,” a senior NASA official said anonymously ahead of the documents’ public release.

Duffy was appointed interim administrator in July by President Donald Trump after withdrawing billionaire Jared Isaacman’s nomination following a dispute involving Elon Musk, an ally of Isaacman.

In addition to the reactor project, Duffy directed NASA to accelerate efforts to replace the International Space Station (ISS), another agency priority. These initiatives aim to boost US progress toward returning to the moon and advancing to Mars, competing with China’s similar ambitions.

The plans align with the Trump administration’s emphasis on crewed spaceflight. The proposed 2026 budget would increase funding for human space missions, even as it recommends deep cuts elsewhere, including nearly halving science mission budgets.

The new directive requires NASA to seek industry proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor designed for lunar deployment by 2030, a significant upgrade from the agency’s previous research on a 40-kilowatt model targeted for the early 2030s. Such a reactor is vital for supporting a sustained astronaut presence on the moon.

The directive warns that the first nation to establish such a reactor on the moon could “declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States,” reflecting concerns over a joint China-Russia project.

NASA is instructed to appoint a project leader and gather industry feedback within 60 days. The 2030 timeline aligns with China’s plans to land its first astronaut on the lunar surface.

This initiative ensures NASA’s continued involvement in nuclear technology development, despite the Pentagon’s recent cancellation of a collaborative nuclear-powered rocket engine program.

“While the budget did not prioritise nuclear propulsion, that wasn’t because nuclear propulsion is seen as a non-worthy technology,” the NASA official added.

Regarding the ISS, the directive calls for NASA to replace the ageing station with commercially operated platforms by revising contract awarding processes. The agency plans to select at least two companies within six months of issuing requests for proposals, aiming to launch a new station by 2030. Failure to do so could leave China as the only operator of a permanently crewed orbital station.

Several firms, including Axiom Space, Vast, and Blue Origin, have expressed interest, but lawmakers worry NASA isn’t providing sufficient funding promptly.

By Tamilla Hasanova