US, Russia and China Plan Lunar Nuclear Reactors by 2030 and 2036, Respectively

3.4 · 17h ago · WORLD · TECH

The Facts

  • NASA announced in January plans to develop a nuclear reactor on the moon by the end of 2030. Al Jazeera only
  • Russia, working with China, aims to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2036; the Russian reactor, called Selena, is expected to produce 10 kilowatts and run for a decade without maintenance. Al Jazeera only
  • NASA's Lunar Reactor 1 is planned to produce 20 kilowatts, run five years without maintenance, and weigh under 6,000 kg. Al Jazeera only
  • Selena is expected to weigh about 1,100 to 1,300 kg. Al Jazeera only
  • A December 2025 executive order by President Trump directed NASA to build a lunar reactor ready to launch by 2030. Al Jazeera only
Dive deeper · 3 more factsShow less
  • The Soviet Union launched more than 30 nuclear fission reactors into Earth orbit between the late 1960s and 1980s to power spy satellites; the US has not successfully launched a reactor into space since a 1965 experiment that shut down after 43 days. Al Jazeera only
  • The US and Russia say they would keep reactors switched off until reaching the moon. All three countries want bases near the moon's south pole, near water ice in permanently shadowed craters. Al Jazeera only
  • Simon Middleburgh of Bangor University's Nuclear Futures Institute said nuclear power is the 'obvious choice' for a moon base, that three or four reactors would likely be needed, and that the main challenges are launch regulation, launch platform availability, and landing and setup. Al Jazeera only

Context

The US, Russia and China are pursuing nuclear reactors on the moon to power bases and mining of water ice near the south pole. Solar power is limited by the two-week lunar night.

NASA's plan targets 2030, following a December 2025 executive order, while Russia and China target about 2036. The US has spent about $20bn on space nuclear programmes over 70 years, per Al Jazeera, and prior efforts stalled over shifting budget priorities.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

4 News Editor The story reports plans and targets (NASA's January announcement, a December executive order, Russia/China 2036 goal) rather than a concrete new action like a contract award or launch, with limited immediate impact on most people, though it is a notable space-policy development.
4 Policy Expert The story reports plans and targets for lunar reactors, including a December 2025 executive order directing NASA to build one, but these are announced intentions and expert commentary rather than a concrete enacted program with immediate widespread impact.
4 Science & Tech Analyst This story reports plans and targets for lunar reactors announced by agencies and governments, with no completed launch or contract-level concrete action beyond an executive order, making it a moderately newsworthy but limited-impact policy/planning item.
3 Informed Citizen The story mainly reports announced plans and targets for future lunar reactors, which are concrete-ish but not yet an enacted action with immediate impact on ordinary people, so it is a minor, niche space policy item.
3 Critical Reader The story reports plans and targets for future lunar reactors with no concrete new action, contract, launch, or funding milestone beyond an existing executive order, so it is largely announcement-level news of limited immediate impact.
3 Global Affairs Analyst The story reports announced plans and targets for lunar reactors from NASA and Russia-China, which are concrete but not yet executed actions, and the Russia-China reactor is a stated aim rather than a binding commitment, so impact is limited for now despite the strategic interest.
3 Business Analyst The story reports planned but not yet executed lunar reactor programs with multi-year timelines, mostly restating existing announcements and an executive order, with limited immediate economic or market impact.

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