Overview
- An Office of Science and Technology Policy memo directs NASA to launch a mid‑power reactor program within 30 days, targeting an orbital demonstration in 2028 and a lunar surface unit in 2030.
- NASA and the Pentagon will run parallel design competitions with Department of Energy support to accelerate space‑rated fission systems for near‑term use.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency plans to begin flights of SR1 Freedom, a nuclear‑powered interplanetary spacecraft, in 2028 to enable deep‑space missions.
- The plan specifies mid‑power reactors around 20 kilowatts, designed to operate for at least three years in orbit and five years on the lunar surface to support an enduring base.
- Officials highlight major hurdles that include reactor testing and launch approvals, access to suitable nuclear fuel, funding, and enough launch capacity, with Isaacman calling for more U.S. launch pads to meet a steady cadence of lunar deliveries.