Content overview: “US and Russia-China Race to Put Nuclear Reactors on the Moon by 2030s”. The United States and a Russian-Chinese alliance are in a new space race, this time to place nuclear reactors on the moon. NASA and the US Department of Energy aim to have a fission surface power system ready by 2030, while Russia's Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration are collaborating on a reactor for 2036. These projects are part of broader lunar exploration programs, including NASA's Artemis and the International Lunar Research Station.
Nuclear power is seen as essential for sustaining long-term human presence on the moon, providing reliable energy during the two-week lunar night when solar power is unavailable. However, leading scientists warn of significant risks, including launch accidents, radiation leaks, and the potential for geopolitical conflict over lunar resources. This listing links straight to the original page, where the content is available in full.