Science & Technology

Energizing Space - The Artemis Missions & Nuclear Power

November 2025

From ambition to opportunity, humanity’s reach for the stars has always been fueled by competition. Today, that spirit is reignited, not to plant a flag, but to build a foothold. A new space race has commenced between the world’s superpowers, and this time, the Moon isn’t the finish line; it’s the starting point.

Establishing a lunar base is no small feat. The scientific and technological capabilities required to do so need collaboration among public-private partnerships and international allies. Getting to the Moon is in itself a challenge, but staying there is the true test. Where astronauts will live and work is one consideration; how they will power that existence is another entirely.

Jordan Kari - Founder, KPI

On the Moon, a single day lasts 29 Earth days: a cycle of 14.5 days of light followed by 14.5 days of darkness. Which beckons the question – how would a lunar base look, and how would we power it? Solar panels, so effective in Earth’s orbit, fall short during this long night. Energy storage systems could help bridge the gap, but they add weight, complexity, and limits to operational capacity. To sustain human life, run research facilities, and power manufacturing systems year-round, the Moon will need something more dependable – nuclear energy.

The Challenge

NASA’s priority on the Moon is not about revisiting history – It’s about preparing the agency and the broader space sector for the future. The Artemis Program is the agency’s roadmap in creating a testbed for technologies that will make the next leap forward to Mars and beyond. These efforts will create a proving ground for advanced technologies, including everything from robotics to power systems to lunar mining, all with the purpose of supporting long-term operations.

Each mission takes small steps, building on one another to establish a sustainable lunar presence. 

Why the Moon?

Over the course of this decade-long endeavor, NASA’s incremental “small steps” will collectively become a giant leap toward a permanent human foothold beyond Earth.

The Human Landing System will be an essential component of NASA’s lunar base. The HLS will act as the nucleus of the Artemis Base Camp, with subsequent modules like the Thales Alenia Space Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH) as branches to support additional research and operational capabilities. Moreover, the modular design of the base camp may initially echo that of the International Space Station (ISS).

Longer stays introduce more nuanced challenges, namely, radiation. To build out protections for inhabitants, NASA may look to use lunar regolith (the Moon’s soil, rocks, and dust) as a natural shield. However, moving and shaping this material will demand heavy equipment, which means power is another important factor to consider.

That’s where emerging technologies like 3D printing in combination with lunar regolith can be looked to as a solution. This could reduce dependency on Earth-based materials and shipment, but again, all of these efforts rely on one critical component: reliable energy.

Lunar Base

The two-week lunar night creates a power vacuum; solar power and energy storage only go so far, and a loss of energy could endanger lives and critical systems. Nuclear power systems can fill this gap.

NASA and the DOE have aimed to create small modular reactors (SMRs) through their kilopower and Fission Surface Power programs. These could potentially provide steady energy to support a lunar base while also providing power to other needs. Unaffected by the lunar day-night cycle, dust accumulation, or temperature swings, SMRs can help support a variety of activities on the lunar surface. From manufacturing and mining to water extraction and fuel production, a nuclear-powered base will transform the Moon into a hub for deeper space exploration.

Power and energy production will be largely dependent on the technology we use; policy will determine what becomes a reality. Long-term stays on the Moon require sustainable investment and coordination across public and private partnerships. Moreover, there is a need to align technical capability and goals within policy frameworks.

Nuclear Power

Powering Progress Through Policy

Sound policy that supports technological innovation is key to achieving a lasting presence on the Moon. By developing small modular reactors (SMRs) for use both here on Earth as well as in space and on the lunar surface requires stable funding and coordination between government agencies, the private sector, and research institutions.

Fostering innovation through policy is a multifaceted effort; aligning regulatory frameworks, procurement strategies, and partnerships will subsequently need guidance from NASA, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This can help reduce risk and support investment to ensure commercial readiness and application to the Artemis missions.

Funding is the lifeblood of supporting this effort. During the Apollo missions, NASA spent around $25 billion (around $250 billion today); nearly 4% of federal spending. Today, NASA operates on about $25 billion; this stagnant funding is often filled through private sector partnerships. We don’t necessarily need the scale of funding during the Apollo era, but we do need localized investment in manufacturing capacity and an accelerated regulatory approval for SMRs.

Funding in Context

Building the SMR Ecosystem

A coordinated ecosystem of public-private partnerships is vital to SMR development. NASA and DOE can lead funding efforts for testing, while national labs and university-affiliated research centers (UARCs and FFRDCs) can focus on materials and integration. Scaling production can be better supported by the commercial sector and innovative reactor designs.

All in all, these efforts can turn nuclear energy into a foundation for sustainable exploration on the Moon and beyond. .

Key Policy Actions

  • Support funding and development of SMRs through government contracting that pairs public investment with the private sector cost-sharing.

  • Update regulatory frameworks with NRC and DOE to streamline licensing standards for SMRs while developing clear standards for the nuclear generation systems.

  • Strengthen manufacturing and research capabilities through investment at national labs, UARCs, FFRDCs, and the private sector to accelerate technological innovation and workforce development.