The US Office of Science and Technology Policy has unveiled a new inter-agency roadmap to deploy nuclear fission reactors in orbit and on the lunar surface by 2031, according to a report by theregister.com.
The initiative coordinates efforts between NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy to establish a functional nuclear presence in space. The plan calls for "parallel and mutually-reinforcing" design competitions to develop reactors capable of powering both orbital missions and lunar outposts.
NASA has been tasked with launching a program within 30 days to develop a mid-power space reactor ready for flight by 2030. This program must include a lunar-compatible variant and an option for nuclear electric propulsion.
Industrial readiness and deployment
The Department of Energy will assess whether the domestic nuclear reactor industrial base can produce up to four space reactors within a five-year window. This assessment is critical as the agency controls the US stockpile of necessary nuclear material.
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has 90 days to produce an analysis of use cases for a mid-power in-space reactor intended for deployment by 2031. The report notes that this specific development remains "pending availability of funding."
Engineers are targeting reactors that provide at least 20 kWe for a minimum of three years in orbit and five years on the Moon. At least one design must be capable of scaling up to 100 kWe, though NASA is also considering a lower-power 1 kWe option to reduce cost and schedule risks.
SpaceX, Blue Origin, or United Launch Alliance vehicles will likely handle the launches, depending on availability in 2029. The current plan excludes NASA's Space Launch System (SLS), which is slated for its final launch, Artemis V, in 2028.
This push follows previous calls for nuclear expansion in space. During a presentation in March, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman called for the use of a fission reactor on interplanetary missions as early as 2028.