US President Donald Trump has appointed Sean Duffy as the acting chief of NASA. He has planned to install a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. America, China and Russia are involved in this race.

Highlights

America will install a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030.

America, China, Russia are involved in the plan to build a colony on the moon.

NASA has demanded $350 million in 2026.

Imagine the moon of 2070. Humans are walking around. There is no hut, but a colony has been built on the surface of the moon. There is Wi-Fi, popcorn is being heated in the microwave and everything… is running on a nuclear reactor. Now this is not science fiction. America has moved towards making it a reality.

US President Donald Trump recently made Sean Duffy as NASA’s acting chief. As soon as he came, he made a shocking announcement. He said, By 2030, we will install a nuclear reactor on the moon. Yes, you read it right. Now a nuclear powerhouse will be built on the moon, so that future space stations, astronauts and perhaps a ‘lunar colony’ will be illuminated.

What is in the plan?

A nuclear reactor will be installed on the moon, which will produce 100 kilowatts of electricity. That is, enough power to power 80 homes in the United States at once. The launch is to be prepared by 2029. It has been asked to appoint a project head in 30 days and seek proposals from private companies in 60 days. “If we don’t run fast, China and Russia will overtake us and create a ‘no entry zone’ on the moon,”” Sean Duffy said.”

But the nuclear reactor… why?

Because the moon’s weather is very bad. Two weeks are sunny and then two weeks are dark. Solar panels are not able to generate enough electricity to meet the needs. Batteries run out quickly. AMER‍IKI S‍PACE AGENCY NASA KNOWS THAT‍I IF HUMANS WANT TO LIVE ON THE MOON, THEY NEED ELECTRICITY… A LOT OF ELECTRICITY.

Who is in the race?

Not only America, Russia, China are in the race of Mission Moon, but India also has a big plan.

NASA Artemis mission is preparing to send humans back to the moon in 2027.

Now his next step is to make a n‍yuk‍l‍ir power plant on the moon.

China and Russia have planned to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2035.

Russia’s space agency Roscosmos and China’s CNSA have also signed MoUs.

ISRO is slowly moving forward in this race, but looks far ahead of the US-China.

How much will it cost?

NASA has asked for $350 million for this in 2026. It has been in demand of $500 million every year since 2027. The actual cost is not yet fixed, but it is certain that it will not be cheap to install a nuclear reactor on the moon. There are some questions too. Will the reactor leak? Will the surface of the moon be able to withstand a nuclear shock? Won’t this put dreams of settling on the future moon in danger? NASA has made smaller red‍io thermal generators before, but the new system will be bigger and more powerful.

How will moon colony look after set up of nuclear plant on moon

The establishment of a nuclear power plant on the Moon would be a transformative event for a lunar colony, fundamentally changing its appearance, capabilities, and long-term viability. A nuclear reactor is seen as a key to a sustainable human presence on the Moon because it overcomes the primary limitations of solar power, which has been the main source of energy for space missions to date.
Here’s how a moon colony would likely look and function with a nuclear plant:
A Permanent, Self-Sufficient Outpost

• Continuous Power: The Moon’s day and night cycle lasts about 28 Earth days, meaning a “lunar night” is roughly two weeks long. Solar panels, which have powered missions like the Apollo program and the Chinese Chang’e landers, are useless during this prolonged darkness. A nuclear reactor, however, would provide a continuous and reliable power source, allowing the colony to operate 24/7. This would enable critical systems like life support, heating, and communications to run without interruption.
• Location Flexibility: With a stable power source independent of the sun, a lunar colony would no longer be tied to locations that receive constant sunlight. This would allow for the establishment of bases in permanently shadowed craters, particularly at the lunar poles, where valuable water ice is believed to be concentrated.
• Industrialization and Growth: A nuclear plant would provide a significant power boost, far beyond what solar panels could generate. This surplus energy would be essential for large-scale industrial activities such as:
• Resource Extraction: Powering drills and other equipment to mine for lunar regolith (moon soil), rare-earth metals, and helium-3, a potential fuel for future fusion reactors.
• In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Powering systems to extract oxygen from lunar rocks and create propellants for rockets, reducing the need to transport materials from Earth.
• Manufacturing: Powering the 3D printers and other machinery needed to construct habitats, tools, and infrastructure on-site, a process known as sintering.
  The Physical Appearance of the Colony
• Compact and Shielded: The nuclear reactor itself would likely be a small, compact fission reactor. To protect astronauts from radiation, it would be heavily shielded and potentially buried under a thick layer of lunar regolith, which acts as a natural insulator and radiation shield. This would prevent the reactor from being a prominent above-ground feature.
• Heat Dissipation: A major challenge on the Moon is waste heat. Without an atmosphere to dissipate heat, the reactor would need a robust heat rejection system. This would likely involve a large network of radiators, possibly resembling huge, flat panels, to radiate the excess heat into the vacuum of space.
• Expanded Infrastructure: The availability of abundant power would allow for an expanded and more complex colony. You would likely see:
• Larger, More Capable Rovers: High-powered rovers could be used for long-distance exploration and mining operations.
• Advanced Habitats: Habitats would have more robust life support systems, allowing for a larger and more permanent population.
• Industrial Zones: Dedicated areas for resource extraction, processing, and manufacturing would emerge, likely located at a safe distance from the human habitats.
• Minimal Visual Impact (from a distance): From a distance, the lunar colony might not look dramatically different. The core components of the nuclear plant would likely be buried. The most noticeable features would be the large heat-dissipation radiators and a network of power cables or wireless power transmitters linking the reactor to the rest of the base.
  In short, a nuclear power plant would transform a moon colony from a temporary outpost dependent on Earth for supplies to a self-sufficient, industrialized settlement with the potential for long-term growth and exploration.

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