NASA and DOE plan fission power plant on Moon by 2030

by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 15, 2026
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have renewed their long standing partnership to develop a fission surface power system that can operate on the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign and future missions to Mars. The agencies plan to deploy a lunar surface reactor by 2030 to support sustained human and robotic activities and to advance U.S. leadership in space exploration and commerce.

A new memorandum of understanding between NASA and the Department of Energy formalizes this collaboration and aligns it with President Trump's goal of American space superiority through the use of nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit. The agreement calls for the two agencies to work together on developing, fueling, authorizing, and readying a fission surface power system for launch and deployment on the lunar surface.

NASA and DOE expect the reactor system to provide safe, efficient, and abundant electrical power for years without refueling, enabling continuous operations regardless of local lighting or temperature conditions. Such a power source is intended to support long duration surface missions, habitation, science payloads, and infrastructure that will not be limited by the availability of solar power or batteries.

Under the national space policy set by President Trump, NASA is charged with returning astronauts to the Moon, building infrastructure that allows them to remain there, and preparing for human missions to Mars and beyond. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said that achieving these objectives requires the use of nuclear power and that the new agreement will help deliver the capabilities needed for what he described as a Golden Age of space exploration and discovery.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright linked the effort to historic examples where American science and innovation opened new frontiers, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo program. He said the agreement continues that legacy and that, under the America First Space Policy, the Department of Energy is working with NASA and commercial space companies on what he characterized as one of the greatest technical endeavors in the history of nuclear energy and spaceflight.

The collaboration builds on more than half a century of joint work between NASA and the Department of Energy in space exploration, technology development, and areas related to national security. Their past cooperation includes the provision of radioisotope power systems and other nuclear technologies that have enabled missions to operate far from the Sun or in extreme environments.

By pursuing a lunar surface reactor, the agencies aim to create a power system that can be adapted for future Mars missions and other deep space activities. The work supports NASA's broader Moon to Mars architecture, which seeks to establish a sustained human presence on and around the Moon as a stepping stone to sending crews to the Red Planet.

NASA has identified fission surface power as a key technology for maintaining surface operations during the long lunar nights and in shadowed regions where solar power is not practical. A reliable nuclear power plant on the Moon could supply energy for habitats, in situ resource utilization systems, communications, and scientific instruments for many years.

The Department of Energy will contribute its expertise in nuclear fuel, reactor design, safety, and authorization processes to ensure the system meets performance and regulatory requirements. NASA will integrate the power system with its lunar architecture, including landers, surface systems, and potential commercial partners that may provide additional infrastructure.

In addition to enabling sustained lunar exploration, the agencies frame the effort as a strategic component of U.S. leadership in space commerce and technology. A proven lunar fission system could drive innovation in compact reactors, materials, and space qualified power systems that may also have applications on Earth.