NASA wants to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 – choosing where is tricky

An illustration showing inflatable ringed bases on the surface of the moon, with wires poking out of the top attached to satellite dishes with the Earth in the background .

This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

In a bold, strategic move for the U.S., acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced plans on Aug. 5, 2025, to build a nuclear fission reactor for deployment on the lunar surface in 2030. Doing so would allow the United States to gain a foothold on the moon by the time China plans to land the first taikonaut, what China calls its astronauts, there by 2030.