“The United States wants to dominate the moon with the atom”: the nasa nasa alarm reactor China, a new race for space is launched

The project to install a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 marks a significant step for NASA. This initiative is part of a tense geopolitical context where the United States seeks to assert its space leadership against China and Russia. The recent announcement of the NASA temporary administrator Sean Duffy underlines the importance of this ambition. The 100 kilowatts reactor planned could feed various lunar infrastructure, reflecting a daring strategy to ensure a continuous presence on the natural satellite of the earth.

An extraordinary energy challenge: why nuclear is essential

On the moon, the energy conditions are particularly difficult. The lunar night extends over fourteen earthly days, making solar energy insufficient to maintain continuous operations. In response to this difficulty, NASA has bet on nuclear technology. Initially, the project provided for a 40 kilowatts reactor, but the new internal directive brought this capacity to 100 kilowatts.

This reactor will not only serve to feed a lunar base. It is also essential to operate scientific equipment and spatial fuel production units. A senior NASA official has also said that the objective is to “win the second space race”, thus highlighting the strategic issue of this project.

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Strategic race: the threat of a lunar monopoly

The installation of a nuclear reactor on the moon by the United States is part of a geopolitical competition. In March 2024, China and Russia announced their intention to place a lunar reactor by the mid-2030s. This initiative prompted the United States to accelerate its program to prevent another country from taking energy control of certain lunar areas.

According to Sean Duffy, the stakes are high, because “the first country to settle there could claim exclusive control of the area”. This perspective pushes Washington to act quickly to maintain its leading position in space exploration and avoid being distant by its competitors.

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From Krusty to Artemis: a project already in incubation

The technology behind this lunar reactor does not come out of nowhere. It is based on the advances of the kilopower program and the Krusty prototype, which demonstrated its potential in 2018. This 10 -kilowatts reactor used very enriched uranium and a thermoelectric conversion system. The new reactor, five times more powerful, is part of the Fission Surface Power program.

This project benefits from the collaboration of the American Department of Energy and Potential Industrial Partners such as BWX Technologies and Lockheed Martin. These partnerships are crucial for the development of a technology capable of effectively operating in the hostile environment of the moon.

A very high budget for this project

The budget allocated to this project is substantial. The Trump administration had planned an envelope of $ 350 million for 2026, or around 303 million euros. This amount should increase to $ 500 million in 2027. However, despite this targeted funding, the overall NASA budget has experienced historic compression, being the lowest since 1961.

This paradoxical situation comes as the Artemis program provides for a return of American astronauts to the moon from 2027. Regular inhabited missions and the ambition of a permanent basis require substantial financial resources. How will NASA manage to reconcile these ambitions with current budgetary constraints?

The establishment of a nuclear reactor on the moon by the United States represents a turning point in spatial exploration. This ambitious project, however, raises several questions. What will be the approach of the United States to technological, financial and geopolitical challenges? Will international partnerships play a crucial role in this approach?

This article is based on verified sources and the assistance of editorial technologies.

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