(NewsNation) — Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy is expected to announce a fast-tracked plan Tuesday to deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 — five years ahead of a joint plan by China and Russia.
While details remain limited, Politico reported the concept has been previously discussed. However, Duffy’s new directive would mark the first official timeline for the project.
“We are in a race with China to the moon,” Duffy said during a press conference before the announcement.
He added, “We need to get our act together” when it comes to the space race, saying it is “critically important” for the U.S. to fast-track a nuclear reactor to the moon.
NASA had been working toward a 40-kilowatt reactor, but under Duffy’s plan, the goal would be to launch a more powerful 100-kilowatt reactor by 2030, according to Politico.
Nuclear reactor on moon will allow deep-space exploration
The move signals a step toward enabling extended human stays on the moon and deep-space exploration.
“Having nuclear power in space is really important for any human exploration beyond low Earth orbit,” said Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut. “The moon has two weeks of daylight and two weeks of night. So, you can’t have solar power on the moon unless you have some huge batteries.”
The United States has not sent astronauts to the moon in more than 50 years. The new reactor would enable more people to stay on the moon for longer periods. A power source on the moon not only gives the U.S. a lunar foothold, but it also becomes a testing ground for exploration beyond the moon.
Winning space race against China, Russia is key: Former astronaut
Duffy’s plan puts the U.S. ahead of China and Russia, whose joint nuclear reactor mission is targeting a 2035 launch, Reuters reported.
“China would love nothing more than to beat us. If they can beat us to the moon, that sends a very powerful, visceral signal to all of humanity that China is ahead of America,” Virts said. “If they win this next space race, then a lot of people are going to think their authoritarian system isn’t so bad.
“The things we do on the moon are going to dramatically impact the things that happen here on Earth to the 8 billion of us that are down here on the planet,” he said.
The new nuclear reactor timeline comes in the wake of downsizing at NASA, which saw about 20% of its workforce opt to leave through the Department of Government Efficiency‘s deferred resignation and voluntary departure program.
According to Politico, Duffy’s directive would require NASA to appoint a project leader and open a 60-day window for interested companies to submit proposals.