- NASA wants to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030.
- The agency signed a memorandum of cooperation with the US Department of Energy.
- The nuclear reactor is supposed to provide power for future lunar bases.
The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Department of Energy confirming its commitment build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. This was announced on Wednesday by NASA Director Jared Isaacman, TASR reports based on reports from the DPA agency and the Space.com portal.
“America is committed to returning to the moon, building the necessary infrastructure and making the investments necessary for the next giant leap to Mars and beyond.” Isaacman said. According to him, nuclear energy is necessary to achieve this goal. This agreement allows NASA and the Department of Energy to work more closely together to provide the capabilities needed for space exploration.
“From the Manhattan Project to the Apollo missions, history shows that when American science and innovation come together, our country can lead the world to new frontiers once thought impossible. This agreement continues that tradition,” said Energy Minister Chris Wright on the sidelines of the signing of the memorandum.
They have not yet published details of the content of the agreement. However, NASA has been working for several years to develop a nuclear reactor that could power one or more lunar bases that the agency wants to build as part of its Artemis program.
Last December, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for the creation of a permanently habitable lunar base by 2030. In the same year, the first nuclear reactor should also be brought to the surface of the moon.
According to Trump’s order, superiority in extraterrestrial space is essential to US security and prosperity. “Therefore, the United States must pursue a space policywhich will expand the reach of human discoveries, secure the country’s vital economic and security interests, promote commercial development, and lay the foundations for a new space era,” the document reads.
NASA and the US Department of Energy have been working together on energy systems for more than half a century. For example, the Cassini probe, which explored Saturn, or the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers on Mars used radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) as energy sources, which are devices for converting the heat generated during radioactive decay into electrical energy. It is a very reliable and long-term energy source that can work without a break for decades.
The driving force behind plans to place a nuclear reactor on the moon is also growing competition from China. Russia presented the idea of a nuclear reactor on the moon several years ago. Currently, both countries are working on a joint project.
