NASA Plans to Build Nuclear Reactor on Moon by 2030

In a newly revealed memo signed by acting NASA chief and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the United States is racing to deploy nuclear power on the Moon before China and Russia do. The July 31 directive urges the selection of two commercial partners within six months, with a launch goal set for late 2029. Duffy warns that if China and Russia succeed first, they could declare territorial “keep-out zones” that jeopardize the U.S. Artemis program. The move, part of NASA’s shift under President Trump’s second term, reflects a strategic pivot toward long-term human space exploration.