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NASA’s interim leader Sean Duffy recently declared the U.S. space agency aims to place a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 to provide energy for an eventual lunar outpost. Duffy describes this as a new moon race to establish the strategic foothold and keep a competitive advantage for the U.S. During a press conference titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” , he emphasised the importance of having dependable power on the lunar surface. NASA moved up its new crew-rushed lunar lander by a full year as the agency scrambles to seize key resources on the moon and lay the groundwork for deeper exploration at least four years away.

According to the press conference, for exploration and a long-term Moon base, reliable power is crucial. Solar panels fail during the Moon’s two-week-long nights, so a nuclear reactor could supply continuous electricity even in darkness. It would be especially valuable at the south pole, where permanent shadows hide water-ice deposits. These ice reserves are essential for life support and fuel, so steady power there would expand mission capabilities. Strategically, deploying a reactor would help secure key territory.

China and Russia plan to build one by the mid-2030s, and U.S. officials warn the first country to do so could effectively claim that region, creating a de facto “keep-out zone”. Duffy even called the south pole the Moon’s “best” spot—rich in ice and sunlight—and said America must “get there first and claim that for America”.

Challenges

The directive sets near-term milestones. NASA must appoint a lunar reactor program manager within 30 days and solicit industry proposals within 60 days. The aim is a flight-ready 100 kW reactor by roughly 2030.

However, the plan faces major hurdles. The 2026 budget would allocate about $350 million to jump-start lunar fission power (rising to $500 M by 2027), but also proposes deep cuts to overall NASA funding. Observers note this would be NASA’s smallest budget in decades. Meanwhile, the agency is trimming science programs and even its workforce.

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NASA’s Orion Control Room Prepares for Artemis II Lunar Mission

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NASA is preparing for Artemis II, the first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo, with a new control hub at Johnson Space Center. The Orion Mission Evaluation Room (MER) will support flight controllers by monitoring Orion’s systems in real time during the 10-day mission. Staffed 24/7, the MER will compare telemetry with expected performance, troubleshoot issues, …

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James Webb Space Telescope Spots Planet-Building Dust in the Butterfly Nebula

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The James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled stunning new details of the Butterfly Nebula, a planetary nebula 3,400 light-years away. Using its infrared vision, Webb detected crystalline silicates, large dust grains, and carbon-rich PAH molecules within the nebula’s dusty torus. These discoveries reveal how dying stars recycle minerals and organic compounds, spreadin…

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China Unveils ‘Darwin Monkey’, World’s Largest Neuromorphic Supercomputer

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China has unveiled Darwin Monkey, the world’s largest neuromorphic supercomputer. With over 2 billion artificial neurons and 100 billion synapses, it mirrors a macaque brain’s complexity. Designed by Zhejiang University and Zhejiang Lab, the system could accelerate neuroscience simulations and advance artificial general intelligence while consuming only 2,000 watt…

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