The United States is preparing a nuclear reactor on the moon

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Sean Duffy. Nevertheless, interim administrator of NASA and transport secretary, announced the acceleration of a key project: the construction of a nuclear reactor of 100 kilowatts on the lunar surface, which should be completed in 2030. Meanwhile, This spectacular increase in power (previous projects provided for a power of around 40 kW) should provide stable energy. Moreover, to the future money.

The installation will be built as part of the International Artemis program, supervised by NASA. For example, The main objective of this initiative is not only to bring men back to the moon. Similarly, but also to prepare the ground for future expeditions to Mars. In addition to the energy production unit itself. For example, a complete support infrastructure – from energy storage united states preparing nuclear reactor transmission networks – will be extremely important. Therefore, This daring initiative is a response to the growing activity of China. In addition, Russia in space and announces a new era of global competition beyond terrestrial orbit.

Is the 2030 deadline possible? – United states preparing nuclear reactor

According to experts, although ambitious, the 2030 maturity is technically possible. For example, NASA. Similarly, the Ministry of Energy have been working for a long time on systems of surface energy supply by fission – Most recently, contracts for the design of modules of around 40 kW were awarded in 2022.

The reactors must operate reliably in extreme conditions: temperature fluctuations ranging from daytime heat to night frost up to -200 ° C. Therefore, absence of atmosphere, limited cooling. The reactors must therefore be tight, safe and capable of managing heat in low pressure and low gravity conditions. In addition. rocket launches include a risk of failure – the united states preparing nuclear reactor reactor would be sent to an “inactivated” state to minimize the risk of contamination in the event of a disaster.

The Cold War moves on the moon

Under the Treatise on the Extra-Atmospheric Space of 1967. no one can claim territory on the Moon. However. safety zones around the reactor – for technical reasons – can de facto block access from other countries to strategic areas.

“The first country to go there could declare a prohibited area, which would considerably bother NASA operations,” said Sean Duffy.

China is already testing the “Lanyue” landing, which should transport humans on the moon before 2030. With Russia. it plans to build an international lunar research station by 2035, which could be equipped with its own nuclear reactor.

Technological partnership with Europe

European activity in the field of lunar exploration is not limited to the support of. the Artemis program. European countries are continuing united states preparing nuclear reactor their own advanced projects which can not only inspire American projects. but also feed them directly, thus becoming precious partners.

The Italian project Selene (Lunar Energy System With Nuclear Energy). led by ENEA in collaboration with the ASI, the Polytechnic University of Milan and Thales Alenia Space, provides for the construction of a “Moon Energy Hub”, a source of stable energy on the moon based on small nuclear reactors (surface nuclear reactors).

The European Space Agency (ESA) implements the Moonlight program to create a constellation of five satellites – four for navigation. one for communications. This initiative. supported by Italy and the United Kingdom, should make it possible to carry out more than 400 lunar missions over the next 20 years, thus establishing the standard in terms of cisluna infrastructure.

The Spanish company GMV has developed the Lupine system. which allows precise navigation on the lunar surface using satellite signals united states preparing nuclear reactor – similar to those of GPS but adapted to lunar conditions. Tests have been carried out in Fuerteventura, whose landscape resembles the lunar surface.

Airbus works with ESA on the CIS Lunar Transfer Vehicle (CLTV). a versatile transport vehicle capable of transporting goods between the earth, the orbit and the moon. At the same time. the EL3 (European Large Logistic Lander), a modular landing that will transport useful loads and samples on the lunar surface in the context of the autonomy of exploration of Europe, is under development.

The Luna Center, a joint initiative of the ESA and the German DLR, is under construction in Cologne. It is a 700 -meter hall that simulates the lunar conditions. with a layer of rocks and lighting systems that imitate the day and night cycle on the moon. It is used to form astronauts, test robots, human-machine interaction, energy systems and simulate operations united states preparing nuclear reactor on the surface.

The pulsar consortium. led by Tractebel and financed by Euratom, develops a power supply system based on plutonium-238 (PU-238)-a reliable alternative to solar energy for difficult lunar conditions and long nights.

The Italian space agency (ASI) works with NASA on a versatile housing module (MPH) – a refuge for astronauts. on the lunar surface.

United states preparing nuclear reactor

Back to the money globe

The race for space enters a new phase where energy. independence beyond Earth plays a key role. The lunar reactor becomes not only an engineering project, but also a strategic competition tool, determining technological and political superiority.

By 2030. we could attend not only the return of man to the moon, but also to the establishment of the first permanent energy installations, which will constitute the foundation of a long -term human presence in space. At the same time, issues of law, security and united states preparing nuclear reactor international cooperation arise. Indeed. although the Treaty on Extra-Atmospheric Space prohibits the “appropriation” of this natural satellite of the earth, the practice of safety zones can introduce a new form of geopolitics of space.

Europe. with its wide range of projects, can not only become a partner but also an independent player in this process, by combining technological innovation with an active role in the definition of lunar exploration standards.

If these projects materialize. the future landscape of the money globe could look more like an industrial technological park than a quiet and intact space desert. This is the beginning of an era where the question is not whether bases will be established on the Moon. but according to what rules and which will fix them.