NASA Logo. Archival photo.
MOSCOW, August 5. According to a report by Politico newspaper, citing internal documents and unnamed officials, Sean Duffy, the acting Administrator of NASA and current US Secretary of Transportation, is expected to reveal plans this week concerning the development of a nuclear reactor on the Moon.
The publication indicated that Duffy will announce «accelerated plans for building a nuclear reactor on the Moon» during the current week.
The newspaper further detailed that NASA has been engaged in discussions regarding the construction of such a reactor on the lunar surface, with intentions to establish more precise timelines for the project`s completion.
A high-ranking NASA official reportedly told Politico that these initiatives are being pursued as part of an effort to «win the second space race.»
In addition, Politico noted that Duffy has proposed a directive aimed at accelerating the replacement of the International Space Station (ISS).
The reactor directive specifically mandates NASA to solicit proposals from industrial partners for the launch of a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor by 2030. The directive also contains a significant warning: the first nation to successfully establish a reactor on the Moon could «declare a restricted zone that would significantly deter the United States.» This statement, the publication suggests, highlights NASA`s growing apprehension regarding the lunar ambitions of Russia and China.
Previously, Dmitry Bakanov, Director General of Roscosmos, disclosed that in May 2025, a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the China National Space Administration. This agreement focuses on the creation of a lunar power station, a project deemed crucial for the International Lunar Research Station. Furthermore, Russian scientists are planning to study Venus`s atmosphere to investigate the possibility of past life on the planet.
China, for its part, has outlined plans to land humans on the lunar surface for scientific research by 2030.
