Nuclear race on the moon: US, Russia and China race to build lunar reactor
Photo: Flags of the US, Russia and China (open sources)
The US, Russia, and China are entering a new space rivalry, with the countries working to develop nuclear reactors that could provide power to future lunar bases, The New York Times reports.
Washington wants to launch its reactor by the end of 2030, while the Russian-Chinese project is scheduled for 2036.
In late August, NASA approached contractors with a proposal to prepare for the development of a nuclear reactor capable of surviving a journey through space and operating without maintenance near the moon’s south pole.
The US agency expects the reactor to be ready for launch by December 2030.
The reason for the rush is concern that Russia and China could get ahead of the United States. Moscow plans to develop a lunar reactor as part of its partnership with Beijing.
The goal of a nuclear reactor on the moon
The goal is not limited to generating electricity. The US and China want to be the first to establish a permanent base on the moon, gain access to its resources, including frozen water, and use Earth’s satellite as a platform for future missions deeper into the solar system.
A nuclear reactor is viewed as a key element of this infrastructure. Solar panels cannot provide a stable power supply during the lunar night, which lasts more than two weeks in Earth time.
A nuclear installation, by contrast, can operate independently of sunlight.
What the US is planning
NASA is developing the Lunar Reactor 1. The installation is expected to generate about 20 kW of electricity and operate without human intervention for five years.
The US government is also considering nuclear technologies for future missions beyond the moon. In particular, NASA plans to attempt the first use of nuclear power for a spacecraft flight to Mars in December 2028.
The Pentagon is also working on its own space nuclear reactors, which could be deployed in orbit and on the Moon.
The US already has experience using nuclear installations in space. NASA launched its first reactor in 1965, although its operation was halted after the spacecraft suffered an accident.
Since then, the United States has spent more than $20 billion on space nuclear programs but has not deployed another reactor in orbit or on another celestial body.
What Russia and China are preparing
Russia has tasked state agencies with developing a lunar reactor called Selena. It is intended to provide power to lunar stations that will be led by China.
Selena is expected to generate up to 10 kW of electricity and operate autonomously for 10 years. Its design is expected to incorporate technology developed for a reactor intended for use in the Arctic.
China and Russia have presented joint plans for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). In December 2025, China included a nuclear power plant on the moon in a presentation of the project, which is planned to be implemented by 2035.
As a result, the race to build the first nuclear reactor on the moon is becoming part of a new space competition among the world’s leading powers.
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