NASA and the US Department of Energy on 9 October 2026 signed a memorandum of understanding to accelerate the development of nuclear-powered spacecraft and lunar infrastructure, with a space reactor mission slated for 2028 and a fission-based power system earmarked for a future American base on the Moon. The agreement, formalised in Washington, marks a significant shift in how the United States plans to sustain deep-space exploration.

What the Agreement Covers

The memorandum, titled 'Accelerating American Leadership in Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion', was signed by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and Energy Secretary Chris Wright at the Golden Age Summit at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. It takes effect on 1 November and establishes a framework spanning nuclear fuel development, advanced research, testing, launch integration, and operations. Both agencies said safety would remain central to the programme.

The 2028 Reactor Mission and Lunar Plans

Under the agreement, NASA plans to launch Space Reactor-1 Freedom in 2028, a mission designed to move nuclear-powered space technology from laboratory development into operational use in deep space. That mission is expected to pave the way for Lunar Reactor-1, a fission-based surface power system intended to supply electricity to a future Moon base.

Unlike solar arrays, a nuclear reactor can operate through prolonged periods of lunar darkness and function in permanently shadowed craters — regions where solar power is impractical. NASA said nuclear energy would be essential to power habitats, communications systems, scientific instruments, rovers, and other infrastructure needed for sustained human activity on the lunar surface.

Policy Backing and Strategic Context

The agreement builds on an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump in December 2025, which directed NASA to have a launch-ready lunar surface reactor by 2030. 'We are entering the Nuclear NASA-era, which represents a major transformation for space exploration,' Isaacman said at the signing. 'Nuclear power will allow us to go farther, operate longer, and field more capable spacecraft and instruments than ever before.'

Energy Secretary Wright added: 'Thanks to President Trump, America's nuclear renaissance is reaching a new frontier. The Energy Department is proud to partner with NASA as we help American space missions reach uncharted territory.'

Notably, both agencies said the reactor programmes would also help establish an American industrial base capable of developing and supplying nuclear technologies for space, a strategic objective that extends well beyond any single mission.

Other Nuclear-Powered Missions in the Pipeline

The broader collaboration includes continued work on radioisotope power systems — devices that convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity or maintain equipment temperatures in extreme environments. NASA's Dragonfly mission to Saturn's moon Titan, set for launch in 2028, will use a radioisotope thermoelectric generator and 24 lightweight heater units to power and warm the spacecraft as it investigates Titan's environment and potential habitability.

Additionally, NASA and the Energy Department plan to supply 24 radioisotope heater units to the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover, protecting its scientific instruments from extreme cold. NASA has relied on nuclear power systems for decades on missions where solar energy is insufficient, including probes to the outer solar system.

Road to Mars

Beyond the Moon, officials said the nuclear power systems being developed could support future crewed missions to Mars, where both spacecraft propulsion and surface operations would face demanding energy requirements that solar panels alone cannot meet. The agreement is widely seen as a foundational step in the US strategy to sustain a long-term presence beyond low Earth orbit.