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The United States is rapidly working to develop nuclear power systems for use on the Moon and Mars, aiming to deploy the first reactor by the end of this decade.
A new NASA directive—reported by Politico and reviewed by AFP on Tuesday—calls for appointing a nuclear power director to select two commercial proposals within six months. This initiative is framed as essential to surpass China’s and Russia’s joint efforts in space power development.
Signed by Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who also serves as the U.S. Transportation Secretary, the memo dated July 31 highlights NASA’s increasing emphasis on human space exploration over purely scientific missions during President Trump’s second term. The memo states, “Since March 2024, China and Russia have publicly announced at least three joint plans to place reactors on the Moon by the mid-2030s.” It warns that “the first country to do so could potentially establish a no-go zone, significantly hindering the U.S. Artemis program’s ability to establish a presence there if not the first.”
The concept of using nuclear energy beyond Earth isn’t new. Since 2000, NASA has invested about $200 million in developing compact, lightweight fission power systems, though none have yet been flight-ready. In 2023, NASA completed three industry study contracts totaling $15 million, focusing on generating 40 kilowatts—enough to power around 30 homes continuously for a decade.
Unlike solar energy, nuclear fission can operate nonstop, which is vital during the lunar night-long weeks or Martian dust storms. Advances in technology have made such systems more compact and lighter, allowing for easier deployment. NASA committed in December 2024 to incorporate nuclear power for Mars missions, marking one of seven critical decisions needed before humans can reach the Red Planet. Industry insights suggest surface power needs should be at least 100 kilowatts to support long-term human activities, including life support, communication infrastructure, and mining operations like surface ice extraction.
This plan involves using a “heavy class lander” capable of carrying up to 15 metric tons and aims for launch readiness by early 2030—specifically late 2029. The Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence near the south pole, has experienced multiple delays. The first crewed landing, Artemis 3, has been pushed to 2027, though many experts believe that’s an optimistic target given that the lander—SpaceX’s Starship—is still in development. China, on the other hand, is targeting a crewed lunar mission by 2030 and has shown a pattern of meeting deadlines more reliably in recent years.
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