Nasa will build a nuclear reactor on the moon
The move could make the conquest of the moon much easier.
Ethan Lewis (EL)September 5, 2026
NASA plans to have a base and nuclear power plant on the moon by 2026, and is asking for suggestions from companies willing to rise to the challenge.
According to a statement from the Department of Energy, the plan provides for the construction of a 10 kW class gap power system to be used for demonstration purposes. The facility is to be manufactured and assembled on earth and then shipped to the moon in a launcher. This vehicle will put the facility into lunar orbit, from where a lander will bring it to the surface of the satellite.
The demonstration will last for a year and if successful it could open the door to further missions on both the moon and Mars. "Once the technology is proven through demonstration, future systems could be scaled up or multiple units could be used together for long-term missions to the moon and eventually Mars," said Anthony Calomino, director of NASA's nuclear technology portfolio in the space technology mission directorate.
"Four units with an electrical output of 10 kilowatts each would provide enough energy to establish an outpost on the moon or Mars. The ability to generate large amounts of electrical energy on planetary surfaces using a fission surface energy system would enable large-scale exploration , enable the establishment of human outposts and the use of in-situ resources, while offering the opportunity for commercialization. The moon's resources, while unproven, have been a topic of conversation for some time.
Several lunar missions have emerged over the past decade to test Earth's natural satellite for minerals and hydrogen. The nuclear power plant demonstrator is scheduled to run for 10 years, with enough generating capacity to power the equivalent of three to four large households.
