Washington: The United States, China and Russia are locked in an intensifying race to establish nuclear power on the Moon, as the major powers vie for dominance in future lunar exploration. With sustained human settlements planned on the lunar surface, these nations view nuclear reactors as the only viable means of generating the energy required to support them, a competition that is now triggering both global interest and security concerns.
NASA is moving swiftly to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon. According to a report in The New York Times, the US space agency asked private contractors last August to design a reactor capable of operating near the Moon’s south pole without human maintenance. NASA is targeting December 2030 for the reactor to be ready for launch. The lunar reactor is expected to generate between 1 and 20 kilowatts of electricity and operate continuously for five years.
Russia, meanwhile, is developing a parallel project as part of its partnership with China. Under this collaboration, Russia plans to develop a lunar reactor named “Selena” by 2036 to supply power to Chinese-led lunar bases. The Selena reactor is designed to generate up to 10 kilowatts of electricity and operate autonomously, without human intervention, for up to a decade.
A continuous power supply is considered essential for sustaining a permanent lunar base. While solar panels can generate electricity during lunar daytime, nights on the Moon last more than two Earth weeks at a stretch, making reliance on solar power alone impractical in the extreme cold and darkness. Only nuclear reactors, officials say, can provide a sustained power supply independent of sunlight over such extended periods. While solar power may suffice for smaller needs in the initial phase, nuclear energy remains the only viable option for larger lunar settlements.
Scientists have raised serious concerns over the risks involved in building lunar reactors. A rocket failure during launch could release radioactive material into the environment. Unlike on Earth, constructing concrete shielding structures around reactors on the Moon is virtually impossible, posing radiation risks to astronauts and equipment stationed nearby. To mitigate these risks, both the US and Russia are planning to transport their reactors to the Moon in an inactive state, activating them only once in place.
The competition extends beyond power generation to broader control over lunar resources. Under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, no nation can claim the Moon as its own territory. However, NASA has expressed concern that if China and Russia establish restricted zones around their nuclear reactors citing safety requirements, it could effectively limit the areas accessible to American rovers and astronauts on the lunar surface.