NASA in collaboration with the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the renewal of their partnership within the space nuclear reactor project. It is planned to be used in the Artemis program and future missions to Mars.
NASA has been working on a nuclear reactor project for a long time, which could be used to power bases on the surface of the Moon, as well as Mars. The main advantage of such a system is that, that it will be able to generate electricity for many years without the need for refueling. With, unlike solar power plants, it will not be subject to such factors, as a long 14-day lunar night or, as in the case of Mars, variable weather conditions and dust storms.
In December 2025 Donald Trump issued a decree, which calls for the construction of a lunar base to begin before 2030 year, and also to prepare a nuclear reactor for launch on its surface. As of today, NASA and DOE announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding, which confirms their commitment to meet this ambitious deadline.
Source: https://universemagazine.com