Superpowers Race to Put Nuclear Reactors on the Moon

The New York Times ^ | Oct. 4, 2026 | Selam Gebrekidan

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The United States wants a reactor on the moon by 2030. A Russian-Chinese alliance is working on one for 2036. Some leading scientists say the danger is great.

In late August, NASA asked contractors to prepare to build a nuclear reactor that could survive a space voyage and run without maintenance near the moon’s south pole. That may sound like science fiction, but the agency wants it ready to be launched by December 2030.

There is a reason for the rush. Russia aims to have a lunar reactor running by 2036 as part of a secretive partnership with China. NASA has already sped up its schedule to beat its rivals.

The race is for the very future of space exploration. The United States and China want to be first to establish a moon base, to search for resources like frozen water and to launch missions deeper into the solar system. Controlling access to the moon’s assets is vital to this mission. Both superpowers believe a nuclear reactor is the centerpiece of this ambition.

The countries plan to turn on their reactors only after they reach the moon. But some leading scientists caution that governments are moving too quickly in an era of space exploration that has seen some notable disasters. In the last six years, multiple Chinese, American and Russian rockets have failed and exploded, and a Russian lander has crashed into the moon. Space junk regularly tumbles to Earth.

Failures could cause a chain reaction with dire consequences. Falling reactor debris could scatter radioactive material, as happened in Canada in the late 1970s. An explosion or a meltdown on the moon’s surface would risk turning entire regions into no-go zones.

“There will always be...”

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS:

[butlerweave]

Not in the EU but on the Moon ,LOL

[ealgeone]

*****

Maybe not such a good idea.

[PeterPrinciple]

https://portside.org/2026-10-04/sunday-science-superpowers-race-put-nuclear-reactors-moon

Nuclear power appears to be the only core task that China has delegated to its partner in the lunar project. No country has more experience than Russia in this area. It launched more than 30 reactors into orbit, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s, aboard Cold War-era satellites, and it is a leader in civilian nuclear power. Russia controls the largest supply of what is considered the safest nuclear fuel for space missions. That fuel, uranium that is not highly enriched, is in short supply in the United States.

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did we used to have some uranium?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

That gif needs an “Also sprach Zarathustra” accompaniment.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

did we used to have some uranium?

Ask Hillary.

[Zathras]

Seems strange considering the moon is the ONE place in the solar system that solar power is really easy!

[Paal Gulli]

Posting an excerpt to an article behind a pay (registration) wall.

What, exactly, is the point when we only get a fraction of the article?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Go to the top of my homepage and follow the instructions: https://freerepublic.com/~epluribusunum/index

[kosciusko51]

Two weeks in sunlight, then 2 weeks in darkness. On average, about 440 W/m².

[Ezekiel]

An explosion or a meltdown on the moon’s surface would risk turning entire regions into no-go zones.

Making entire regions of the Moon desolate. That sure would change things. 🤔

[Racketeer]

We will soon find out who runs what!!

[Racketeer]

“did we used to have some uranium?
Ask Hillary.”

Hillary made sure we gave away at least 25% as SoS. Of course the Clinton Foundation received $140,000,000.

[BobL]

“did we used to have some uranium?”

Still do - but unlike Russia, we leave it to Leftists to decide whether we can mine it or use it, and they say HELL NO.

[BipolarBob]

I want to apply for a job running this reactor.

[BobL]

“Seems strange considering the moon is the ONE place in the solar system that solar power is really easy!”

...for the 330 or so hours of continuous sunlight, not so easy for the 330 or so hours of continuous NIGHT TIME.