Patriot Brief
What Happened: The Department of Energy and NASA signed a new agreement to develop a nuclear fission power system for the Moon and future Mars missions.
Why It Matters: The plan advances President Trump’s America First space policy and aims to deploy a lunar surface reactor by 2030 to support long term missions.
Bottom Line: The move positions the United States to lead global space exploration and commerce with reliable nuclear power beyond Earth.
The United States is not just going back to the Moon. It plans to stay there and it is bringing nuclear power along for the ride.
The Department of Energy and NASA announced a renewed partnership to develop a fission surface power system for use on the Moon and future missions to Mars. A newly signed memorandum of understanding locks in the collaboration and pushes forward President Trump’s vision of American space dominance, including deploying a lunar surface nuclear reactor by 2030.
This is about power in every sense of the word.
According to the agencies, the reactor would provide safe, efficient, and continuous electricity for years without refueling. That means lunar missions would no longer depend on sunlight or fragile power systems. Astronauts would have stable energy no matter the environment, temperature, or length of stay.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright framed the project as part of a long American tradition of bold innovation. “History shows that when American science and innovation come together, from the Manhattan Project to the Apollo Mission, our nation leads the world to reach new frontiers once thought impossible,” Wright said. “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and his America First Space Policy, the Department is proud to work with NASA and the commercial space industry on what will be one of the greatest technical achievements in the history of nuclear energy and space exploration.”
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman echoed that message, tying the effort directly to Trump’s national space policy. “Under President Trump’s national space policy, America is committed to returning to the Moon, building the infrastructure to stay, and making the investments required for the next giant leap to Mars and beyond,” Isaacman said. “Achieving this future requires harnessing nuclear power.”
The partnership builds on more than five decades of cooperation between DOE and NASA and has national security implications as well. While other nations talk about space, the United States is preparing to dominate it.
This is what leadership looks like. Not climate lectures. Not retreat. Real technology. Real power. And a clear message to the world that America still leads the final frontier.