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International competition for lunar nuclear infrastructure

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2026-10-05 15:16 UTC → 2026-10-06 03:16 UTC · added ~~removed~~

NASA has announced a $20 billion initiative to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, specifically near the lunar south pole. The program is structured in three phases: robotic exploration through 2029, the establishment of power and communication infrastructure between 2029 and 2032, and the creation of a permanent outpost starting in 2032. A central component of this plan is the acceleration of the Lunar Reactor-1 (LR-1), a compact fission power system intended for deployment by December 2030. This reactor aims to provide 20 kilowatts of continuous electricity to overcome the limitations of solar power during lunar nights. International partners, such as Japan’s JAXA, are expected to contribute to the infrastructure, including the development of a pressurized rover for surface travel. This development is part of a broader strategic competition between the United States, Russia, and China to deploy lunar nuclear reactors. While NASA targets a 2030 launch for its autonomous reactor, Russia and China are collaborating on the Selena project, with a target operational date of 2036. The Russian-Chinese system aims to provide up to 10 kilowatts of power and could operate autonomously for a decade. The competition involves the control of lunar resources, such as water ice in permanently shadowed craters, which is essential for life support and rocket propellant. Scientists have raised concerns that the rapid pace of these projects could lead to radioactive contamination or debris risks in the event of launch failures or surface accidents, noting that development may outstrip established safety protocols.

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