Superpowers Race to Deploy Nuclear Reactors on the Moon

NEW YORK CITY: Global superpowers are accelerating a high-stakes race to deploy nuclear reactors on the Moon. The United States is targeting a 2030 launch for a 20-kilowatt reactor, while a Russian-Chinese partnership aims to deploy a 10-kilowatt reactor by 2036.

Nuclear energy is considered essential because solar panels fail during fortnight-long lunar nights. Continuous electricity is needed to maintain permanent bases, extract frozen water ice, and support eventual missions to Mars.

Washington accelerated its program, fearing a Sino-Russian facility could claim territory and establish restricted zones. Russia is providing the primary nuclear capability, building on extensive experience with Cold War-era space reactors.

However, scientists warn that rapid development poses catastrophic contamination risks. Recent rocket explosions highlight launch hazards that could scatter radioactive debris across space or render entire lunar regions uninhabitable.