Space rivals rush to build lunar nuclear plants as south pole land scarcity drives race

UPDATE - follow-up to Analysis: Why NASA wants to build nuclear reactor on the moon: NASA aims to set up a 20 kilowatt nuclear reactor near the moon's south pole by 2030 to supply steady power for a future moon base.

The Power Race

Parallel efforts by the United States and China seek to establish permanent moon bases, requiring reliable electricity for heating and rovers. The moon experiences two weeks of sunlight followed by two weeks of darkness, and south pole craters drop below minus 200 degrees Celsius, making solar panels less reliable than nuclear power. Russia plans a 10 kilowatt reactor for the China-led International Lunar Research Station. NASA scientists Julie Kleinhenz and Aaron Paz calculated in 2020 that making 10 tonnes of oxygen from water ice requires roughly 68 kilowatts, meaning these early reactors are stepping stones for larger industrial plans.

Geopolitics and Land

Space agencies face urgency over scarce ideal land near the south pole that offers sunlight and water ice. NASA research suggests placing reactors at least one kilometre away from humans. While the 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans claiming lunar territory, the U.S.-led Artemis Accords propose temporary safety zones to stop harmful interference. Critics note that deploying reactors and landing pads could grant a controlling advantage over key areas.

Technical Hurdles

Building lunar nuclear plants involves heavy transport costs for shielding, or making parts on the moon. Cores must launch unirradiated, and agencies need large surfaces to remove waste heat while avoiding moondust. Contamination risks remain high if a reactor fails near vital human sites.

Context

Nuclear power remains essential for future lunar industrial economies, yet no country currently operates such an economy on the moon. Governments are pushing to install reactors quickly to outpace rivals, raising safety and operational concerns for future space exploration.