NASA is fast-tracking plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030

News broke this week that NASA is fast-tracking plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030.

If that sentence feels like something straight out of a sci-fi fever dream, well, it kind of is. Even crazier, the man behind the moon nuke mission is none other than Sean Duffy, the former Fox News host, Real World: Road Rules Challenge winner, competition lumberjack, and now interim NASA Administrator.

Yes, that guy is now in charge of lunar nuclear policy. This country never ceases to amaze me. At this point, you just have to go with it. There’s no point in being mad at things we can’t even control. Let it ride.

NASA announces expedited plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon

EXCLUSIVE: Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, his first major action as interim NASA administrator. https://t.co/RpjxR6zbZy

— POLITICO (@politico) August 4, 2025

Politico – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, the first major action by the former Fox News host as the interim NASA administrator.

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.

On paper, it looks like the driving force behind all of this is to “win the second space race” and prevent China and Russia from staking claim to the moon with their own reactors, which are on a 2035 schedule.

There’s even talks of “keep out zones”, permanent lunar bases, and a shit ton of Cold War energy dressed up in futuristic buzzwords. That type of shit plays. It’s a good source of nationalism and scratches that specific American itch to keep beating foreign adversaries on any and all technological feats, just because we can.

Don’t get me wrong, if this is about winning, I’m absolutely in.

Light up the launchpad, baby. Fire up the space race, slap a flag on the moon, and pump “Born in the U.S.A.” through a rocket-powered Bluetooth speaker. Let’s flex.

I do wonder why the hell are we building a nuclear reactor on the moon when our cities here on Earth look like Fallout 3?

This country has bridges held together by duct tape, potholes you can fall into and meet Mario, and public transportation systems that feel like something out of a historical reenactment. We’re out here launching uranium to the moon before we can figure out how to get clean water to every American?

What are we even doing?

Did you know that the last official American city is Essex Junction, Vermont? That was in 2022 after they separated themselves from the town of Essex. After that, we’re looking at Eden, Utah. After that we have Gluckstadt, Mississippi and Loxley, Alabama which were incorporated in 2021 but both were founded in the early 1900s.

Point being, I would much rather spin up some new cities here in America and at the very least, clean up the ones we already have before turning our attention to the moon. Hell, I would rather build underwater or above-water cities in and on the Ocean before heading back out to space.

Earth has been in and out on the moon for decades. First, it’s the most important place in the galaxy. Then it’s just a dusty orb we forget about until China says they’re interested. Suddenly everyone’s racing to build a nuke on the surface. Planting a flag used to be enough.

Now we need nuclear infrastructure? Moon law has gotten out of hand.

NASA says the reactor will generate 100 kilowatts to support future lunar missions and research. Sure. I guess. Is that going to help us get to Mars? I really don’t even know what that means.

Why is NASA always throwing out the worst explanations for their projects? Doesn’t it feel like we are constantly missing something?

My gut tells me that the nuclear reactor on the moon isn’t about energy. It’s about dominance and having America dunk on every other country that dared to look at the sky and think they had a shot.

And hey, that’s totally fine with me. You wanna dunk? Let’s dunk. Just be prepared to explain where America is falling short back here on earth. It’s wild that we’re spending all this time and money to build a reactor on another celestial body before we can figure out how to keep the lights on in some corners of our own country.

Can we multitask? Probably. Do we? Not really.

Go ahead and build your moon reactor. Beat China. Win the new space race. Drop your nuts on the lunar surface. I personally don’t care. Sounds fun. I would at least like a promise from someone, anyone that we’ll fix at least one bridge down here first.

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