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| Photo Image ArtStation |
In the context of the "Space Race 2.0" is heating up, the US is strongly promoting the nuclear reactor project to serve long-term missions on the Moon, with the goal of putting it into operation before 2030.
NASA and the US Department of Energy are currently cooperating with many corporations such as Lockheed Martin, Westinghouse and the Intuitive Machines - X-Energy alliance to develop the Fission Surface Power Project - a 40 kW power supply system, enough to maintain operations for about 30 US households, with a minimum lifespan of 10 years and fully automatic operation.
According to the new requirements issued in 2025, the design will be upgraded to 100 kW, aiming to meet the energy needs of lunar bases within the framework of the Artemis program, while creating a strategic advantage over China and Russia. The preferred location for deployment is the Moon’s South Pole, an area believed to contain permanent water ice and favorable for resource exploitation.
Experts say nuclear power is the only solution to maintain continuous operations during the “lunar night” conditions that last longer than 14 Earth days, when solar panels cannot provide electricity. At the same time, placing a reactor in a key location can create a significant “zone of influence”, shaping the activities of other countries there.
The US has previously tested small nuclear power sources for space, such as SNAP-27 during the Apollo mission or the SP-100 project. However, this is the first time a lunar nuclear reactor plan has been scheduled for actual deployment, with a specific timeline and technology.
Source: Euronews, NASA, Wired, Space.com
