WASHINGTON (TNND) -- Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy will announce later this week the agency's plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, an effort to beat China and Russia in what is considered the second space race.
Duffy's impending announcement comes as President Donald Trump's proposed 2026 budget intends to cut NASA's funding by 24% and its personnel by nearly one third. The Pentagon had also just cancelled a joint program with NASA which focused on developing nuclear-powered rocket engines. But at the same time, the White House has also increased its budget for human spaceflight funds, signaling that President Donald Trump remains committed to his goal to expand space travel - including Mars.
"Fission surface power (FSP) is both an essential and sustainable segment of the lunar and Mars power architectures for future human space exploration missions," the directive, obtained by Fox News, stated. "To properly advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy, high power energy generation on Mars, and to strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly."
As China and Russia have announced joint efforts to develop their own nuclear reactor on the moon, Duffy and NASA officials intend to move quickly in the development of a nuclear reactor for the United States which will be crucial to support eventual space travel to Mars. There is concern that if Russia and China were to develop a nuclear reactor first then they could establish a "keep-out zone", essentially blocking the United States from making its own on the moon.
"There are very specific areas of the moon that are critical that who gets there first gets to plant their flag," Duffy recently said on "Hannity." "We know the Chinese want to get there as well, so speed is of the essence."
The directive states its intention of launching a 100 kilowatt nuclear reactor by 2030, around the same time that China plans to land its first astronaut on the moon. The directive sets a 60 day deadline for a leader to be assigned for the project as well as to receive industry input. Six months after NASA opens up requests for proposals, it intends to have selected at least two companies for contracts.
"To properly advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy, high power energy generation on Mars, and to strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly," Duffy wrote in the memo.
The directive also calls for replacing the International Space Station, which is scheduled for being removed from orbit in 2031. China has built its own space system because it was excluded from the ISS due to concerns of espionage from the Chinese Communist Party. If there is is no plans to replace the ISS, the Chinese would be the only country to have a space station.
Meanwhile, Duffy is juggling both his responsibilities with NASA and also as Transportation Secretary. Trump pulled his previous pick for NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, a favored pick of his former ally Elon Musk. There was great concern that Isaacman's strong ties to Musk and SpaceX may be a conflict of interest in his role in NASA.