US, Russia and China Race for Lunar Nuclear Power Amid Safety Concerns

The United States is seeking to have a nuclear reactor ready for launch to the moon by December 2030, as competition grows over how to power future lunar facilities.

The American timetable puts it in a race with a joint Russian-Chinese project aimed at supplying energy to lunar stations by 2036. Both efforts place nuclear power at the centre of plans to support activity on the moon.

The US target concerns readiness for launch, rather than a confirmed date for the reactor to begin operating on the lunar surface. The Russian-Chinese goal focuses on providing power to lunar stations.

The competing schedules have raised concerns that accelerating the programmes could compound safety challenges. Pressure to meet deadlines risks making those challenges harder to address as the projects advance.

The race highlights the tension between ambitious lunar energy plans and the need to manage nuclear safety, with the pace of development emerging as a key concern.