Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, Aug 7: The United States is actively engaged in a space race with China to secure the most resource-rich region of the Moon, NASA's interim administrator Sean Duffy revealed at a press briefing on Tuesday. Duffy also announced ambitious plans to install a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030 to power future missions and settlements.
Speaking during a Department of Transportation event titled “Unleashing American Drone Dominance”, Duffy emphasized the urgency of establishing energy infrastructure to support a permanent human presence on the Moon. “We’re in a race with China to the Moon. To have a base there, we need reliable energy,” he stated.
NASA is targeting the deployment of a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor within the next five years — a move Duffy described as essential for powering operations on the lunar surface. The reactor would produce energy equivalent to what a typical US household consumes in three-and-a-half days.
Duffy stressed the strategic significance of a specific lunar region, believed to be near the Moon’s south pole, rich in sunlight and ice. “There’s a certain part of the Moon that everyone knows is the best. We have ice there. We have sunlight there. We want to get there first and claim that for America,” he asserted.
The presence of water ice is considered crucial for long-term human habitation and fuel production, while persistent sunlight ensures consistent solar energy — making this region ideal for a sustainable lunar base.
To allay public safety concerns, Duffy clarified that the nuclear reactor would not be activated during launch from Earth. “We’re not launching this live,” he confirmed, addressing fears over sending nuclear material into space.
In a candid admission, Duffy acknowledged that NASA’s Artemis program — the modern successor to the iconic Apollo missions — has yet to capture the imagination of the public. “A lot of people don’t even know what Artemis is. Everyone knew Apollo. The whole world watched. With Artemis, we’re going back to the Moon,” he remarked.
As geopolitical rivalry intensifies beyond Earth’s orbit, both superpowers are preparing to stake their claim on the Moon — not just for prestige, but for long-term strategic and scientific dominance.