The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is preparing to implement a major project to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon. This move is seen as part of the U.S. goal to elevate its competitive edge in space exploration once again.
According to documents obtained by Politico magazine, NASA and the U.S. Department of Transportation will soon announce a nuclear reactor project with a capacity of 100 kilowatts, planned to be launched to the Moon. NASA’s acting director Sean Duffy is expected to reveal details of the project next week. The reactor is targeted to be sent to the Moon by 2030.
A senior NASA official, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that this initiative aims to secure U.S. superiority in the so-called “second space race.” The project documents emphasize that the first country to have a nuclear reactor on the Moon could designate the area as a “restricted zone,” significantly limiting the activities of other nations.
