Sean Duffy, acting administrator of NASA and concurrently the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, has officially confirmed the United States` intention to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon as part of its strategy to establish a permanent lunar base.
Responding to journalists` questions about the lunar reactor plans, Duffy stated: “We are in a lunar race with China. To establish and sustain a base on the Moon, we will need energy. While solar power will be utilized in certain areas of the Moon, nuclear fission technology is absolutely critical. We have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in research to confirm the feasibility of this project, and we are now moving from the study phase to practical implementation.”
Politico previously announced that Duffy would make this declaration this week. According to a directive cited by the newspaper, NASA is tasked with soliciting proposals from industrial enterprises for the creation and launch of a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor by 2030. The document also expresses concern that the first nation to deploy a reactor on the Moon could establish a “restricted zone,” significantly limiting U.S. activities. This reflects NASA`s apprehension regarding Russia`s and China`s space initiatives.
Meanwhile, Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov previously reported that a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the China National Space Administration in May 2025. This agreement aims for joint development of a lunar power plant, which will be a significant contribution to the International Lunar Research Station project. Additionally, Russian scientists plan to conduct research on Venus`s atmosphere to determine if life ever existed there. Separately, China itself plans to carry out a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 for scientific objectives.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth