NASA accelerates moon base plans with 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor to outpace China – NaturalNews.com

• NASA plans to establish a permanent moon base by deploying a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor by 2030, accelerating its Artemis program timeline.
• The lunar south pole, rich in water ice, is the target for fuel production, life support, and future Mars missions, with the U.S. aiming to beat China there.
• Nuclear energy is critical due to the moon’s long nights, making solar power unreliable; the reactor will be assembled on-site to avoid launching radioactive material.
• Geopolitical tensions drive the urgency, as China and Russia also race to claim the moon’s resources, with the first nation securing a reactor gaining a strategic advantage.
• NASA’s Artemis program shifts from brief Apollo-style visits to long-term habitation, with astronauts landing by 2027 and eventually enabling 500-mile pressurized rover expeditions.

If you thought the Apollo missions were impressive, buckle up: NASA’s interim director, Sean Duffy, just unveiled plans to not only return astronauts to the moon but to stay there… permanently.

In a bold move to secure American dominance in space, Duffy announced an accelerated timeline for deploying a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030, a critical step toward establishing a sustainable moon base and, eventually, launching missions to Mars. The stakes? Beating China in a new space race while harnessing the moon’s ice reserves for fuel and survival.

The nuclear advantage

Solar power won’t cut it on the moon. With lunar nights lasting two Earth weeks, solar panels would be useless for half the month. That’s why NASA is pivoting to nuclear energy. Originally planning a 40-kilowatt reactor, the agency is now pushing for a 100-kilowatt system, which is enough to power a small lunar outpost.

The reactor won’t be launched live, Duffy clarified, easing concerns about launching radioactive material into space. Instead, it will be assembled on-site, likely near the moon’s south pole, where shadowed craters hold vast deposits of water ice—a potential game-changer for life support and rocket fuel.

A new Cold War in space

This isn’t just about science. It’s about geopolitics. China, partnering with Russia, is racing to build its own moon base, and Duffy made it clear the U.S. intends to get there first. “There’s a certain part of the moon that everyone knows is the best,” Duffy said. “We have ice there. We have sunlight there. We want to get there first and claim that for America,” he added, referring to the resource-rich south pole, where sunlight and ice coexist in a rare combination on the moon.

The urgency isn’t just symbolic. The first nation to establish a lunar reactor could declare a “keep-out zone,” effectively staking a territorial claim. For a country founded on frontier expansion, the moon is the next logical step.

From Apollo to Artemis: Why this time is different

The Apollo program was a sprint—a series of brief, flag-planting visits. Artemis, Duffy explained, is a marathon. “We want to go back to the moon. We want to set up a base there. Keep people on the moon. And there’s actually that we have ice on the moon. It’s actually very real. And then from there, what we learn will help us go to Mars.”

But why now? After decades of neglect, the moon is back in the spotlight because of its strategic value. Water ice can be split into hydrogen and oxygen, which are key components of rocket fuel. A lunar base could serve as a pit stop for deeper space missions, slashing the cost and risk of traveling directly from Earth.

Not everyone is convinced, with some pointing to NASA’s history of delays and budget overruns. The Artemis program has already faced setbacks, including the abrupt withdrawal of Jared Isaacman, Trump’s original pick for NASA chief. And while nuclear power solves the energy problem, it introduces new risks, like handling radioactive materials in a hostile environment.

Then there’s the question of public support. Duffy admitted that most Americans don’t even know what Artemis is, unlike the universally recognized Apollo program.

What’s next?

NASA aims to land astronauts near the moon’s south pole by 2027, with crews staying twice as long as Apollo missions. Piece by piece, the agency will assemble a base, starting with the reactor and expanding to habitats and rovers. The pressurized rover alone could enable 500-mile expeditions—moon road trips in street clothes.

For Duffy, this isn’t just about exploration. It’s about legacy. A lunar settlement could be the greatest space achievement of our era, and if the U.S. gets there first, it could redefine humanity’s future in space.

The moon is no longer a distant dream. It’s a strategic battleground, and NASA is betting big on nuclear power to secure America’s place there. With China closing in, the race is on, and the winner could dictate the rules of space for generations.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

Space.com

TheAtlantic.com

Space.com