The White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy unveiled in a Tuesday memorandum a new initiative focused on the use of nuclear power in space.
Within 30 days of the memorandum, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will create a program to develop a mid-power space reactor with a lunar fission surface power variant that can be launched by 2030, according to the National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power, The plan will also have an option for a space variant for nuclear electric propulsion demonstration, according to the document.
Conducting a parallel project to NASA, the Pentagon, depending on availability of funding, will pursue reactor deployment of an in-space reactor by 2031. Within 90 days of the memorandum, the Pentagon will hold a briefing with several White House offices to discuss which space nuclear system would be the best option.
“The overall strategy for the Initiative is to conduct parallel and mutually-reinforcing National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Department of War design competitions to enable near-term demonstration and use of low- to mid-power space reactors in orbit and on the lunar surface, and prepare to deploy high-power reactors in the 2030s,” according to the memorandum.
Directed by the December 2025 executive order, Ensuring American Space Superiority, the new initiative, the National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power, has laid out the guidance on how certain federal agencies will collaborate to deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030. The Donald Trump White House also wants a nuclear reactor deployed in orbit as early as 2028.
The Department of Energy will support the overall mission for NASA and the Pentagon, according to the document. DOE entered into an interagency memorandum of understanding in January with NASA to collaborate on the moon reactor mission.
“Within 60 days, provide an assessment on the readiness of the U.S. nuclear reactor industrial base to produce up to four space reactors within five years, including reactor design, delivery of long lead-time components, and fuel allocation or production, along with recommendations for addressing any gaps,” according to the document.
The Office of Science and Technology Policy will develop a roadmap within three months of the document that will identify “obstacles to achieving the objectives of this Initiative and recommendations for addressing them,” the White House said.
BWX Technologies (BWXT), which is developing an advanced nuclear technology for space, applauded the White House’s Tuesday announcement. BWXT also works closely with the Pentagon on Project Pele, a 1.5-megawatt high-temperature gas-cooled transportable microreactor.
“At BWXT, we’re excited to be a part of this momentum,” the company said in a Wednesday LinkedIn post. “Expanding America’s space nuclear capabilities is key to enabling national security missions and making a sustained presence on the Moon, Mars and beyond a reality.”