The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have recommitted to their longstanding partnership to support the research and development of a fission surface power system for use on the Moon and future NASA missions to Mars. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the agencies reconfirms this collaboration in support of deploying nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit, including the development of a lunar surface reactor by 2030. This effort is intended to ensure US leadership in space exploration and commerce.
DOE and NASA anticipate deploying a fission surface power system capable of producing safe, efficient, and plentiful electrical power that will be able to operate for years without the need to refuel. The deployment of a lunar surface reactor will enable future sustained lunar missions by providing continuous and abundant power, regardless of sunlight or temperature. DOE and NASA are looking to partner with US companies to develop a fission surface power system for demonstration on the Moon. The system will leverage the latest innovations in advanced reactor development and must meet certain mission requirements such as the ability to operate autonomously to match energy demand.
“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,” said US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “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 Administrator Jared Isaacman noted: “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. “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 fission surface power demonstration is expected to generate up to 40 kilowatts of electricity – enough to power a portion of the infrastructure and equipment needed by astronauts on the lunar surface. As power needs for future missions grow, fission surface power systems could be scaled up to produce higher power levels to support permanent habitats, in-situ resource utilisation, and additional complex infrastructure and science operations.
NASA plans to land astronauts at the Moon’s south pole, where solar energy is unable to provide sufficient, sustained power for extended missions. Lunar nights are equivalent to 14 days on Earth, and reliable electricity provided by fission power systems will be needed to survive extreme temperatures.
The initial demonstration is expected to last for a minimum of one year, but the system will be designed for longer operation to gather additional information. It may also be used as part of the lunar power infrastructure.
Unlike terrestrial reactors, a surface power system for space must withstand the harsh vibration forces that occur during a launch or landing on a planet’s surface. To accomplish this, the units will have structural robustness to protect the coolant, reactor core, and electronic control systems, along with the support system that holds it all together. This also allows them to operate in the extreme temperature environment found on the moon.
The agencies’ joint effort to develop, fuel, authorise, and ready a lunar surface reactor for launch builds upon more than 50 years of successful collaboration in support of space exploration, technology development, and the strengthening of national security. Nuclear space reactors were first developed in the US in the 1950s by NASA and the Atomic Energy Commission (predecessor of DOE) through its SNAP programme.
SNAP-10A, a sodium-potassium cooled fast reactor, was launched into space in April 1965 as part of a research project for the US Department of Defense to power a satellite. The reactor produced 500 watts of power and operated for 43 days during its flight test before shutting down due to an electrical fault. It was intentionally placed in a high orbit to allow radioactive decay, where it continues to orbit Earth today.
