A Nuclear Reactor on the Moon? The U.S. Government Says It’s Happening by 2030
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have reignited efforts to develop a small nuclear reactor for deployment on the Moon by the end of the decade. Designed to power long-term lunar missions, the project aims to support human activity in one of the most energy-demanding environments ever attempted.
The DOE and NASA are working through a joint program called Fission Surface Power, which will lead to the design and eventual deployment of a 40-kilowatt-class nuclear fission reactor. The system is being engineered to operate autonomously, withstand lunar nights, and provide a decade of continuous energy in harsh conditions.
A Shared Roadmap to Lunar Energy
The Idaho National Laboratory is leading the technical development for the DOE, while NASA’s Glenn Research Center is managing the overall project. In June 2022, the agencies selected three industrial teams to create preliminary reactor concepts, awarding each a $5 million contract for 12 months of design work.
The selected teams, Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse, and IX (a collaboration between Intuitive Machines and X-Energy), were tasked with proposing reactor systems that are lightweight, scalable, and safe for lunar deployment. According to Interesting Engineering, these initial designs will help NASA evaluate feasibility and chart a path toward a working system ready for launch later in the decade.
Each proposed system must be capable of being transported by a lunar lander, deployed robotically, and activated without human intervention. Once installed, the reactor must generate continuous power for at least ten years, even during the Moon’s 14-Earth-day-long nights, when solar energy is unavailable.
Solving the Power Challenge on the Moon
Solar panels, while practical on Earth and in orbit, face significant limitations on the Moon. The long lunar night, extreme temperature swings, and terrain shadowing make solar energy unreliable for a mission aiming at long-term sustainability. Fission technology offers a consistent and compact solution.
“NASA and DOE anticipate deploying a fission surface power system capable of producing safe, efficient, and plentiful electrical power that will be able to operate for years without the need to refuel,” wrote NASA in a press release.
To support this effort, they are focusing on a reactor design that uses low-enriched uranium fuel, commonly used in civilian reactors, to avoid the challenges associated with weapons-grade material. The system must also include advanced thermal management and radiation shielding to protect nearby equipment and future habitats.
The agency has previously collaborated with the DOE on the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY), a prototype reactor tested in 2018 that successfully demonstrated small-scale nuclear power for space use.
Laying the Groundwork for Interplanetary Power
NASA’s interest in lunar nuclear energy extends beyond the Moon. The Artemis missions are serving as a rehearsal for deep-space exploration, particularlyfuture missions to Mars, where the challenges of solar reliance are even greater. A working fission power system on the Moon could serve as a testbed for systems intended for Mars bases.
DOE pointed out that the successful deployment of a fission reactor on the Moon would mark the first time a U.S.-built nuclear reactor operates on a planetary body beyond Earth. The agency sees this as not only a technical achievement but also a foundation for space infrastructure that will shape the next era of exploration.
In the meantime, the program is continuing through its design and validation phase, with the goal of launching and installing the systembefore 2030. While timelines are subject to change, the project remains a top priority for both agencies as they prepare for the demands of permanent presence on the lunar surface.