White House Releases Memo Outlining U.S. Plans for Lunar Nuclear Reactors by 2030

# Trump Administration Releases Memo on Nuclear Reactor Plans for Moon by 2030 WASHINGTON (Substrate) -- The Trump administration released a six-page memo on Tuesday detailing plans for a nuclear reactor on the Moon’s surface by 2030, Fox News reported. The memo was released by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. U.S.

efforts in space exploration, commerce, and defense applications. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote on X that nuclear power in space will give sustained electricity, heating, and propulsion essential to a permanent presence on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The memo outlines plans to deploy mid-power nuclear reactors in the Moon’s orbit by 2028.

Each nuclear power reactor will be designed to provide 20 kilowatts of energy and generate power for at least three years in orbit. Lunar surface-based nuclear reactors will provide energy for at least five years. The Department of War, Department of Energy, NASA, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy have been tasked with meeting the White House’s goals of deploying nuclear reactors on the Moon’s surface and in the Moon’s orbit.

The memo cited President Donald Trump’s December 2025 executive order titled Ensuring American Space Superiority.

NASA Administrator Supports Nuclear Power Initiative NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote on X that the time has come for America to get underway on nuclear power in space.

U.S. to build a nuclear reactor on the moon before China does. NASA's Artemis II moon rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B on April 1, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, two weeks before the memo’s publication.

Artemis II was designed to test the Orion spacecraft’s deep-space navigation, manual piloting capabilities, and life support systems. The mission launched two weeks before the memo’s publication.

China and Russia Announce Joint Lunar Nuclear Plans In May 2023, China and Russia agreed to work together to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon’s surface by 2036, Fox News reported.

Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency, spoke during a press conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on May 29, 2023. A top official with China's space program said on May 29, 2023, that China's space program plans to land astronauts on the moon before 2030.

“Incorporating nuclear energy in space will be essential to advancing U.S. efforts in space exploration, commerce, and defense applications." — White House Office of Science and Technology Policy > "The time has come for America to get underway on nuclear power in space." — Jared Isaacman > "Nuclear power in space will give sustained electricity, heating, and propulsion essential to a permanent presence on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.”