NASA Plans Nuclear Reactors on the Moon by 2030 for Unlimited Power

NASA is advancing plans to establish nuclear reactors on the Moon by 2030. The space agency, collaborating with the US Department of Energy (DoE), has awarded multiple contracts and expanded partnerships to develop reliable power sources for long-term lunar missions. These reactors must function for at least a decade without refuelling while generating 40 kW of electricity each.

In 2022, NASA and the DoE awarded three $5 million contracts to Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse Electric, and a joint venture between Intuitive Machines and X-energy. The objective was to explore fission surface power designs capable of operating for ten years without maintenance. Each reactor had to weigh under six metric tons and generate 40 kW of continuous electricity.

Since then, the programme has grown. Between 2021 and 2026, at least five more companies and research groups joined the effort. BWX Technologies partnered with DARPA in 2023 for the DRACO nuclear propulsion project. Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation received NASA funding in 2022 for its Micro Modular Reactor. TerraPower extended its Kilopower collaboration with NASA from 2022 to 2025, while General Atomics began nuclear propulsion studies in 2024. Kairos Power secured fission surface power contracts with NASA in 2025.

The push gained further momentum when NASA and the DoE signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration. The agreement reaffirmed their shared target of deploying nuclear fission technology on the Moon by the end of the decade. NASA's new administrator, Jared Isaacman, has since declared the Fission Surface Power Project a top priority for the agency.

Support has also come from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who has championed nuclear innovation since taking office. His backing aligns with broader US efforts to revitalise the nuclear energy sector, both on Earth and in space.

The programme aims to solve a critical challenge for lunar exploration: providing uninterrupted power during the Moon's long nights. With multiple companies now involved and clear technical requirements in place, NASA and the DoE are working toward a 2030 deployment. Success would enable longer missions and more ambitious research on the lunar surface.