The directive orders NASA to solicit industry proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor to launch by 2030
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is also the interim NASA administrator, will announce this week expedited plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon, according to a news report Tuesday.
While NASA has discussed building a nuclear reactor on the moon, this would set a more definitive timeline, according to documents obtained by POLITICO.
โIt is about winning the second space race,โ a NASA senior official told the news outlet on the condition of anonymity.
The directive orders NASA to solicit industry proposals for a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor to launch by 2030, a high priority for returning astronauts to the moon. Previously, NASA funded research into a 40-kilowatt reactor for use on the moon, with plans for a reactor to be ready for launch by the early 2030s.
US to BUILD a NUCLEAR REACTOR on MOON โ Politico
— Moh Musthafa Hussain (@musthafaaa) August 5, 2025
NASA boss Sean Duffy wants to โwin the second SPACE RACE'
Russia and China ALREADY have plans to install nuclear power station on the Moon WITHIN next decade
RT pic.twitter.com/M7gTMlkchY
๐จ US Will Build Nuclear Power Plant on Moon, Acting NASA Chief Duffy Says
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) August 6, 2025
โWe are now going to move beyond studying, and we have given direction to go,โ Sean Duffy said.
Read here๐ https://t.co/hDSYdjMBvA
