The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has revealed plans to install a small reactor on the Moon by 2030 and to actively pursue a private space station to replace the International Space Station (ISS). This is interpreted as part of a strategy to establish a base where humans can stay long-term on the Moon, though there are analyses suggesting it arose from concerns that China and Russia could set up a base on the Moon with a reactor and establish restricted zones.
The U.S. political news outlet Politico exclusively reported on the lunar reactor installation plan, citing a letter sent internally by Sean Duffy, the newly appointed acting Director General of NASA and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, on April 4 (local time). U.S. President Donald Trump announced via social media platform Truth Social on March 9 that Secretary Duffy would take over as acting Director General of NASA.
According to reports, Director General Duffy has directed NASA officials to designate a responsible party to install a reactor capable of producing at least 100 kW of power on the Moon by 2030 and to collect opinions from private companies within 60 days.
The United States has resumed manned lunar exploration, which had been paused since Apollo 17 in 1972, through the Artemis program. The plan is to land astronauts on the Moon by 2027, with the construction of a base for long-term stays by astronauts also being pursued. The lunar reactor is being promoted for the purpose of securing power.
In order for humans to stay on the Moon, power is essential to operate various experiments and survival equipment. Space probes and robots obtain power through solar energy, but this method is difficult for a lunar base. The Moon rotates at the same speed as its orbit around the Earth, meaning one day on the Moon equals one Earth month. Day and night each last for 14 days, making it challenging to ensure a stable energy supply solely through solar power.
Senior Lecturer Im Seong-woo from the University of Surrey stated to the BBC, "Even a small base requires power in the megawatt (MW) range," and noted, "It is difficult to reliably meet that demand with just batteries and solar power, so nuclear energy is no longer an option but a necessity."
The 100 kW reactor mentioned by Director General Duffy can produce enough power for 80 households in the United States. Commercial large nuclear power plants operate at the 1,000 MW level, which is 10,000 times that of the lunar reactor. Earlier, NASA had signed a contract worth $5 million (approximately 6.95 billion won) with related corporations for the design of a 40 kW lunar reactor in 2022. There were plans to develop a reactor that could be launched by the early 2030s.
Professor Lionel Wilson from Lancaster University commented, "If there is sufficient budget, the development of a lunar reactor is possible," and added, "Already, small reactor designs exist, and if the transportation capabilities through the Artemis program that NASA is advancing are secured, the feasibility will be high."
Director General Duffy also directed that plans be made to replace the International Space Station, which will be decommissioned in 2030, with a commercially operated space station. This is to accelerate U.S. exploration of the Moon and Mars. According to Politico, several corporations, including Axiom Space and Blue Origin, are working on the development of the space station.
However, there are risk factors in promoting NASA's plans. Recently, the Trump administration announced a drastic 24% cut to NASA's budget for 2026, raising concerns that even the Artemis 3 lunar landing mission could be delayed due to financial and scheduling issues.
Senior Researcher Simeon Barber from the Open University in the UK noted, "Even if we supply nuclear energy to the base, it is of no use if there is no way to transport people and equipment there," and remarked, "It seems that the plans are not well organized at this point."
In this situation, there are opinions that the decision arose from political backgrounds. In fact, acting Director General Duffy expressed concerns in an internal document that "China and Russia could establish restricted zones on the Moon in the future."
The Artemis Accords, signed in 2020, stipulate that certain areas for installations or assets on the lunar surface can be designated as "safety zones." The United States is concerned that China and Russia may take similar measures. In May, China and Russia jointly announced plans to build nuclear power plants on the Moon by 2035.
Researcher Barber highlighted, "Building a lunar base and designating the surrounding area as a safety zone could mean that this area is ours to operate, so don't come in," indicating that there could be a potential for an international conflict.