U.S. Energy Department Joins NASA in Ambitious Lunar Surface Reactor Project

The U.S. Energy Department on Jan. 13 announced a memorandum of understanding with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the development of nuclear reactors for use on the Moon and in orbit, including a lunar surface reactor targeted for 2030.

The memorandum solidifies their collaboration and advances President Trump’s recent executive order “Ensuring American Space Superiority,” aiming to establish U.S. dominance in space exploration and commerce.

The order calls for a U.S. return to the Moon by 2028 and the establishment of initial elements of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. It calls for nuclear reactor deployment on the Moon and in orbit. Further, the order seeks to encourage private-sector innovation by modernizing launch infrastructure and advancing a commercial pathway to replace the International Space Station by 2030.

The collaboration supports the research and development of a fission surface power system that can generate safe, efficient, and continuous energy on the Moon, supporting sustained lunar missions. The project aligns with the national space policy to return to the Moon, establish infrastructure, and invest in the next giant leap to Mars.

The joint effort builds on over 50 years of cooperation in space exploration, technology, and national security. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright described the partnership as a continuation of America’s legacy of scientific and innovative leadership, likening it to the Manhattan Project and the Apollo missions.