Nuclear Power Emerges as Critical Factor in New Lunar Space Race

The Lunar Night Challenge

The next phase of space competition will be determined by which nations can conquer one of the moon’s most formidable obstacles: the 14-Earth-day-long lunar night. According to space industry reports, when the sun disappears from view, temperatures plummet to nearly minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit, solar panels cease generating electricity, batteries drain rapidly, and critical electronics freeze beyond recovery.

Sources indicate that between 2024 and 2025, the United States returned to the moon with three commercial landers through NASA and industry partnerships. While each completed its primary mission, analysts suggest all three spacecraft lacked the necessary thermal and power systems to withstand the lunar night, failing within two weeks of operation.

China’s Nuclear Advantage

By contrast, multiple Chinese landers have reportedly remained operational for more than 2,400 days using radioisotope power systems, commonly known as nuclear batteries. Since 2013, these systems have kept Chinese vehicles and infrastructure warm and functional throughout the extended lunar darkness., according to market insights

The Chang’e-4 mission has been continuously operating for more than five years on the moon’s far side, according to reports, positioned beyond U.S. monitoring capabilities. The more advanced Chang’e 8 is scheduled to reach the lunar south pole in 2028 to test resource extraction technologies, potentially paving the way for a permanent Chinese lunar base.

Strategic Implications for U.S. Space Leadership

A comprehensive assessment by the Commercial Space Federation reportedly stated that “China’s ambitions to develop super-heavy lift vehicles, autonomous in-situ resource utilization, and nuclear power on the moon raises strategic challenges to U.S. technological advantages.” The analysis suggests that if the United States hopes to catch up, it needs to embrace nuclear power technology as soon as possible.

NASA is responding to this challenge through its Fission Surface Power (FSP) program, which aims to launch a fission reactor to the lunar south pole by 2030. Sources indicate this system would represent a breakthrough, providing continuous power through the lunar night and enabling sustained operations for the Artemis program for years to come., according to related news

Industry Calls for Accelerated Timeline

However, space industry experts suggest the United States cannot afford to wait until 2030 given China’s demonstrated success. Multiple U.S. missions planned across the lunar surface in coming years could potentially utilize nuclear energy, enabling substantially expanded lunar operations and potentially surpassing China’s current lead.

The space industry is reportedly preparing to meet this need with transportation, power systems, and long-duration infrastructure. According to industry reports, significant private capital invested alongside government funding has matured the necessary technology and secured supply chains, with successful prototypes demonstrated, nuclear fuel sources secured, and production facilities established.

Complementary Nuclear Approaches

Experts suggest that establishing “survive-the-night” capability using nuclear batteries complements development of larger nuclear reactors. A recent U.S. Department of Energy study reportedly proposed a “commercially led radioisotope power system demonstration to derisk the broader space nuclear ecosystem, especially if larger efforts encounter delay.”

Nuclear batteries would enable new mission types as exploration expands across the moon and throughout the solar system, according to analysts. These systems could power operations at multiple lunar locations, establish distributed science networks, and support ambitions for Mars exploration. U.S. efforts to utilize lunar resources such as water, metals, and helium-3 will require continuous power and long-duration operations, making night survival capability essential.

Strategic Imperative

The Department of Energy has made the case for urgent action, stating in a recent report that “the United States cannot afford to delay while others shape the rules of the road and claim first-mover advantage.” In this new lunar competition, analysts suggest the critical factor is not merely who lands on the moon first, but who can land and remain operational.

Maintaining a continuous U.S.-led strategic presence across multiple lunar sites would secure rights to conduct science, exploration, and resource utilization. Such continuous presence, according to reports, requires continuous power—making nuclear technology the decisive factor in the emerging space race.

Industry experts conclude that for the United States to win the next space race, it must deploy sustained power systems to maintain operations on the moon, or risk ceding space leadership to China for the foreseeable future.

References

• https://commercialspace.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/CSF-Redshift-v6.pdf
• https://inl.gov/…/strategic-options-space-nuclear-leadership.pdf
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_battery
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geology_of_the_Moon
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lander_(spacecraft)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA

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