Sean Duffy to unveil plan to build nuclear reactor on moon

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy will announce later this week the agency's plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, an effort to beat China and Russia in what is considered the second space race.

Duffy's impending announcement comes as President Donald Trump's proposed 2026 budget intends to cut NASA's funding by 24% and its personnel by nearly one-third. The Pentagon had also just cancelled a joint program with NASA, which focused on developing nuclear-powered rocket engines. But at the same time, the White House has also increased its budget for human spaceflight funds, signaling that President Donald Trump remains committed to his goal to expand space travel – including Mars.

"Fission surface power (FSP) is both an essential and sustainable segment of the lunar and Mars power architectures for future human space exploration missions," the directive, obtained by Fox News, stated. "To properly advance this critical technology to be able to support a future lunar economy, high power energy generation on Mars, and to strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly."

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