U.S. Secretary of Transportation (and current interim administrator of NASA) Sean Duffy is reportedly set to announce plans for the United States to build a nuclear reactor … on the friggin' MOON.
USA! USA!
In one of the more American things to be announced in a while, POLITICO reports that Duffy aims for NASA to have "expedited plans" to accomplish the task.
NASA has discussed building a reactor on the lunar surface, but this would set a more definitive timeline — according to documents obtained by POLITICO — and come just as the agency faces a massive budget cut. The move also underscores how Duffy, who faced pushback from lawmakers about handling two jobs, wants to play a role in NASA policymaking.
'It is about winning the second space race,' said a NASA senior official, granted anonymity to discuss the documents ahead of their wider release.
The project would be about more than simple bragging rights, as other nations have their eyes on similar goals, which could create issues in the future, making it more imperative to be the first to cross the finish line.
The first country to have a reactor could 'declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States,' the directive states, a sign of the agency's concern about a joint project China and Russia have launched.
This falls in line with the greater renewed space race, with the U.S. keen to stay competitive as China prepares to expand its footprint.
The directive also orders NASA to designate a leader for the effort and to get industry input within 60 days. The agency is seeking companies able to launch a reactor by 2030 since that's around the time China intends to land its first astronaut on the moon.
Nuclear reactors on the moon and landing people on Mars sounds pretty cool. Before you know it, we'll be talking about hyperdrives and Kessel runs and missions to steal China's secret Death Star plans.
To the moon, Alice!
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