Nuclear Reactor for Moon Missions: NASA and DOE Target 2030 Launch
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman breaks down the emergency evacuation after an astronaut aboard SpaceX Crew-11 faced a medical issue on ‘Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street.’
On Tuesday, NASA and the Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled ambitious plans to develop a nuclear reactor for the moon’s surface, aiming for completion by 2030. This initiative marks a significant step in lunar exploration and energy sustainability.
The two agencies recently formalized their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding, focusing on the research and development of a fission surface power system. This system is intended for use during NASA’s Artemis campaign and future missions to Mars.
This project aligns with the space policy established during the Trump administration, which envisions deploying nuclear reactors on the moon and in orbit to enhance space exploration and commercial activities. “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,” stated NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
INSIDE NASA’S FAST-TRACK PLANS FOR LUNAR NUCLEAR POWER AND SPACE STATIONS TO OUTPACE GLOBAL RIVALS
NASA and the DOE are developing a nuclear reactor for use on the moon’s surface. (NASA)
“Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power,” Isaacman emphasized. “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.”
The planned fission surface power system aims to provide a safe, efficient, and abundant electrical power source capable of operating for years without the need for refueling. This is crucial for sustaining future lunar missions.
NASA RETURNS HUMANS TO DEEP SPACE AFTER OVER 50 YEARS WITH FEBRUARY ARTEMIS II MOON MISSION
The project is being pursued under the Trump administration’s space policy. (Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The lunar reactor will serve as a continuous power source for future missions to the moon, ensuring energy availability regardless of sunlight and temperature fluctuations. Solar power can be inconsistent on the moon due to its lengthy day-night cycle, which consists of two weeks of daylight followed by two weeks of darkness.
“History shows that when American science and innovation come together, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo Mission, our nation leads the world to reach new frontiers once thought impossible,” remarked Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Jared Isaacman was confirmed and sworn in as NASA administrator in December 2025. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Isaacman further stated that the DOE is “proud to work with NASA and the commercial space industry on what will be one of the greatest technical achievements in the history of nuclear energy and space exploration.”
In August, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that NASA would expedite the development of the lunar nuclear reactor, targeting a launch date of 2030. The space agency has requested proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor, sufficient to power approximately 80 homes.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
“The goal is to power everything,” a senior NASA official told Fox News Digital. “Our systems, habitats, rovers, robotic equipment, even future mining operations – everything we want to do on the moon depends on this.”
Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman breaks down the emergency evacuation after an astronaut aboard SpaceX Crew-11 faced a medical issue on ‘Maria Bartiromo’s Wall Street.’
On Tuesday, NASA and the Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled ambitious plans to develop a nuclear reactor for the moon’s surface, aiming for completion by 2030. This initiative marks a significant step in lunar exploration and energy sustainability.
The two agencies recently formalized their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding, focusing on the research and development of a fission surface power system. This system is intended for use during NASA’s Artemis campaign and future missions to Mars.
This project aligns with the space policy established during the Trump administration, which envisions deploying nuclear reactors on the moon and in orbit to enhance space exploration and commercial activities. “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,” stated NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
INSIDE NASA’S FAST-TRACK PLANS FOR LUNAR NUCLEAR POWER AND SPACE STATIONS TO OUTPACE GLOBAL RIVALS
NASA and the DOE are developing a nuclear reactor for use on the moon’s surface. (NASA)
“Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power,” Isaacman emphasized. “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.”
The planned fission surface power system aims to provide a safe, efficient, and abundant electrical power source capable of operating for years without the need for refueling. This is crucial for sustaining future lunar missions.
NASA RETURNS HUMANS TO DEEP SPACE AFTER OVER 50 YEARS WITH FEBRUARY ARTEMIS II MOON MISSION
The project is being pursued under the Trump administration’s space policy. (Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The lunar reactor will serve as a continuous power source for future missions to the moon, ensuring energy availability regardless of sunlight and temperature fluctuations. Solar power can be inconsistent on the moon due to its lengthy day-night cycle, which consists of two weeks of daylight followed by two weeks of darkness.
“History shows that when American science and innovation come together, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo Mission, our nation leads the world to reach new frontiers once thought impossible,” remarked Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
Jared Isaacman was confirmed and sworn in as NASA administrator in December 2025. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Isaacman further stated that the DOE is “proud to work with NASA and the commercial space industry on what will be one of the greatest technical achievements in the history of nuclear energy and space exploration.”
In August, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that NASA would expedite the development of the lunar nuclear reactor, targeting a launch date of 2030. The space agency has requested proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor, sufficient to power approximately 80 homes.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
“The goal is to power everything,” a senior NASA official told Fox News Digital. “Our systems, habitats, rovers, robotic equipment, even future mining operations – everything we want to do on the moon depends on this.”
Fox News Digital’s Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
