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US, China and Russia Race to Place Nuclear Reactors on the Moon
M
Moneycontrol•05-10-2026, 18:11
US, China and Russia Race to Place Nuclear Reactors on the Moon
- •The United States, China, and Russia are competing to place nuclear reactors on the Moon to secure reliable energy for future permanent lunar bases and deep space exploration.
- •NASA aims to deploy an autonomous lunar reactor by December 2030, while Russia and China are collaborating on a system expected to be operational by 2036.
- •Nuclear power is essential for sustaining lunar operations through long lunar nights, particularly near the resource-rich lunar south pole.
- •Safety experts warn that launching and operating nuclear reactors in space carries significant risks, including potential radioactive contamination from rocket failures or accidents.
Key Questions Answered
NASA has set a target launch date of December 2030 for its lunar reactor project, while the joint lunar reactor project between Russia and China is expected to become operational by 2036.
Solar panels face major challenges due to the Moon's long nights, whereas nuclear reactors can operate without sunlight and deliver steady, multi-year power for scientific equipment, heating, and rovers.
NASA's program is partly driven by concerns that a rival Russian-Chinese system could establish a strategic advantage or a de facto exclusion zone around vital lunar south pole infrastructure.
