NASA to build a nuclear reactor on the moon before 2030

The US Space Agency NASA will quickly monitor the construction of a nuclear reactor for the moon by 2030, US media reported.

This is part of the American ambitions to create a permanent base for a person to live on the lunar surface.

According to Politico, acting NASA leader, aimed at similar plans of China and Russia and stated that the two countries “could potentially declare the conservation zone” on the moon.

But there are questions about how realistic goals and terms, given the recent and steep reductions in the NASA budget, and some scientists are concerned that plans are due to geopolitical goals.

Nations, including the United States, China, Russia, India and Japan, seek to explore the surface of the moon, and some plan permanent human settlements.

“In order to properly promote this critical technology, to be able to support the future lunar economy, the production of high energy on Mars, and to strengthen our national security in space, it is necessary to quickly move the agency,” NASA, US Transport Minister Sean Duffy, who was appointed by NASA Donald.

Dfa called on the proposals of commercial companies to build a reactor that can create at least 100 kilowatts.

This is relatively small. Typical on the shore of wind turbines generates 2-3 megawatts.

The idea to build a nuclear reactor as a power source on the moon is not new.

In 2022, NASA issued companies three contracts for $ 5 million for reactor development.

And in May this year, China and Russia announced that they plan to build an automated nuclear power plant by 2035.

Many scientists agree that it will be the best or perhaps only a way to provide constant force on the lunar surface.

One lunar day is equivalent to four weeks on the ground consisting of two weeks of constant sunlight and two weeks of darkness. This makes the solar energy very complicated.

“Construction of even a modest lunar habitat to accommodate a small crew will require megawatt-scale electricity. Solar arrays and batteries cannot secure these requirements,” said Dr. Sungwa Lim, Senior Teacher of Space Applications, Intelligence and Appliance

“Nuclear energy is not just desirable, it is inevitable,” he adds.

Lionel Wilson, Professor of the Land and Planetary Sciences of the University of Lancaster, believes that it is technically possible to place the reactors on the moon by 2030 “taking into account the obligations for sufficient money”, and he emphasizes that there is already a diesel for small reactors.

“This is just a question that the ARTEMIS launch to create infrastructure on the moon is still,” he adds, citing the ARTEMIS NASA space flight, which is aimed at sending people and equipment to the moon.

There are also some questions around security.

“Launch radioactive material through the Earth’s atmosphere brings security problems. It is necessary to have a special license, but this is irresistible,” says D -R -Simeon Barber, a planetary science specialist at the open university.

Directive Dfa came as a surprise after the recent upheaval in NASA after the administration of Mr. Trump announced a reduction in 24% to NASA budgets in 2026.

This includes a reduction in a significant number of scientific programs such as the return of Mars sample aimed at returning samples from the planet’s surface to Earth.

Scientists are also concerned that this proclamation is a politically motivated step in the new international race up to the moon.

“It seems we are returning to the old days of the competition of the first space race, which, from a scientific point of view, are a little disappointing and concerned,” says D -Barber.

“Competition can create innovations, but if there is a narrower emphasis on national interest and creating property, then you can get rid of a greater picture that studies the solar system and beyond,” he adds.

Mr. Dafa’s comments on the potential for China and Russia potentially “announced an excerpt zone” on the moon appears to refer to an agreement called Artemis Accords.

In 2020, seven countries signed an agreement on establishing the principles of how countries should cooperate on the moon’s surface.

The contracts include the so -called safety zones that will be installed around the operations and assets that the counties build on the moon.

“If you build a nuclear reactor, or on any base on the moon, you can start saying that you have a safety area around it because you have the equipment,” says D -Rar Barber.

“For some people it’s tantamount,” “we own this month, we will work here and you can’t come,” he explains.

Dr. Barber notes that there are obstacles that need to be overcome before placing the nuclear reactor for the moon for use.

ARTEMIS 3 NASA aims to send people to the lunar surface in 2027, but it faced a series of kits and uncertainty around funding.

“If you have a nuclear energy base, but you do not have the opportunity to bring people and equipment, then it is not a lot of good,” he added.

“Currently, the plans are not very united,” he said.