NASA, Department of Energy to Develop Nuclear Reactor for Moon by 2030

The renewed commitment also makes clear that reactor development will be vital for future missions to Mars and beyond.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright (L) and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman (R) meet at the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington on Jan. 8, 2026. NASA/John Kraus

NASA and the Department of Energy renewed their commitment to develop a nuclear power source for lunar surface operations by 2030.

After recently signing a memorandum of understanding, the two agencies solidified their partnership in developing nuclear reactors for orbital and lunar surface applications as part of the overall advancement of President Donald Trump’s vision of U.S. space superiority. Part of that vision includes developing a fission reactor for the lunar surface.

“Under President Trump’s national space policy, America is committed to returning to the Moon, building the infrastructure to stay, and making the investments required for the next giant leap to Mars and beyond,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a Jan. 13 statement.

“Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power. This agreement enables closer collaboration between NASA and the Department of Energy to deliver the capabilities necessary to usher in the Golden Age of space exploration and discovery.”

The renewal also follows announcements made in August 2025 by then-NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy, stating that the agency had until the end of 2030 to develop the technology.

The space agency stated in the Jan. 13 statement that it anticipated deploying a safe and efficient fission surface power system that will be able to operate for years without refueling. It will provide plentiful electric power that will enable sustained lunar missions regardless of sunlight and help ensure that the United States remains the world leader in terms of space exploration, commerce, and security.

Duffy previously gave NASA the requirements to produce 100 kilowatts of power and weigh less than 15 tons to satisfy payload limits of heavy-lift rockets like SpaceX’s Starship.

While solar panels have been seen as the primary source of power for space travel for decades, any permanent base on the lunar surface will spend several weeks of the lunar month in darkness.

Lockheed Martin released a concept image of what that reactor could look like on X, following Duffy’s announcement and explained why something other than solar panels was necessary.

“A fission reactor on the Moon is a must for human exploration to progress,” the company stated. “The Moon is dark and cold 14 days of the month and solar power is not enough to develop a sustainable Moon base. Space fission surface power is safe and we’re continuing to invest to make this a reality.”

The joint effort between NASA and the Department of Energy to build, authorize, and deploy a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface builds on more than 50 years of successful collaboration with the Department of Energy in support of technology development, strengthened national security, and space exploration.

“History shows that when American science and innovation come together, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo Mission, our nation leads the world to reach new frontiers once thought impossible,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said. “This agreement continues that legacy. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and his America First Space Policy, the department is proud to work with NASA and the commercial space industry on what will be one of the greatest technical achievements in the history of nuclear energy and space exploration.”

NASA also made it clear that reactor development will be a part of its larger Moon to Mars architecture, which is focused on developing the elements and blueprint for crewed deep-space expeditions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.