NASA plans to install a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, but deciding on the location poses a challenge

NASA has announced ambitious plans to build a nuclear fission reactor on the moon by 2030, aiming to establish a lunar base and potentially a permanent human presence on the moon. This move comes as China plans to land their first taikonaut on the moon by 2030, giving NASA a foothold before the anticipated competition.

The acting NASA Administrator, Sean Duffy, made the announcement, stating that the reactor will be a crucial power source for visiting Mars, where weaker solar energy makes nuclear energy necessary. The reactor will also be essential for extracting and refining lunar resources, as NASA plans to prioritise this fission reactor.

The reactor is expected to form the power supply for the initial U.S.-led moon base. Temporarily, using the lunar surface's natural topography or placing important assets behind large boulders could provide some protection for prepositioned assets from the landing plume.

The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission, currently in storage, will be used to investigate groundwater ice deposits identified from orbital data. Scientists suspect dark craters called permanently shadowed regions on the lunar north and south poles hold water in the form of ice. The VIPER mission, once deployed, could provide data at both the lunar north and south poles within a year or two with enough funding.

NASA's goal is to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. A custom launch and landing pad will eventually be necessary for any site chosen for the nuclear reactor, as it will require multiple visits to build a lunar base. A legal expert has discussed the implications and legality of building a nuclear reactor on the moon.

The Artemis campaign's lunar landers will generate larger regolith plumes than Apollo, necessitating protection for prepositioned assets or landing beyond the horizon. Landing next to a pre-positioned asset on the moon can cause corrosion due to the landing plume, as demonstrated by Apollo 12 and Surveyor 3. The reactor will deliver consistent power through the cold lunar night.

Currently, there are no public plans by any states to build "barrens" on the moon, and no specific timelines for such construction exist. South Korea aims to build a moon base by 2045. Six lunar orbital missions have collected, and in some cases are still collecting, relevant data that can help scientists pinpoint which water ice deposits are worth pursuing.

The reactor could help establish a lunar base and potentially a permanent human presence on the moon, marking a significant step in human exploration of the moon and eventual Mars. The development of abilities to use local resources and build infrastructure for long-term survival off Earth is a crucial part of this mission.