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. The United States, China, Russia, and other nations have entered a new space race, and this time, the Moon isn’t the finish line; it’s the starting point.

Establishing a semi-permanent base on the moon is no small feat. The scientific and technological capabilities required demand coordination among public institutions, private innovators, as well as international parties. 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, and 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 renewed focus on the Moon isn’t about revisiting history – It’s about preparing for the future. The Artemis Program serves as a proving ground for technologies that will eventually enable human missions to Mars and make the next leap forward. Through Artemis, NASA and its partners will use these missions as a testbed for advancing technologies, including everything from robotics and power systems to in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), extracting and using lunar resources to support long-term operations, all of which will be critical for future Mars Missions.

Each Artemis mission builds on the last, forming a deliberate roadmap toward 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.

Initially, NASA’s lunar base will likely center around the Human Landing System, forming the nucleus of the Artemis Base Camp.  Subsequent modules, including the Thales Alenia Space Multi-Purpose Habitat (MPH), a network of 10 m long aluminum branches, will expand the living and research capacity, echoing the modular design of the International Space Station (ISS).

While these structures can sustain short missions, longer stays introduce new challenges, namely, radiation exposure. To protect inhabitants, NASA plans to use lunar regolith (the Moon’s soil, rocks, and dust) as a natural shield. Moving and shaping this material, however, demands heavy equipment and continuous power.

Emerging technologies like 3D printing with in-situ materials are also being explored to construct habitats directly on the lunar surface. These innovations would reduce dependence on Earth-based shipments, but again, they require one critical resource: 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 / DOE Programs like Kilopower and Fission Surface Power aim to create small modular reactors (SMRs) which could provide enough steady power to support habitats. Unlike solar, these systems are unaffected by the lunar day-night cycle, dust accumulation, or temperature swings. This technology will 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.

While technology will determine how we power a lunar base, policy will determine when it becomes a reality. Sustaining a long-term presence on the Moon requires investment, coordination, and commitment across government, industry, and academia. The path forward depends on aligning technical ambition within policy frameworks.

Nuclear Power

Powering Progress Through Policy

Achieving a lasting presence on the Moon will depend as much on smart policy as it does on engineering. Developing small modular reactors (SMRs) for both lunar and terrestrial use requires stable funding and coordination between government agencies, private companies, and research institutions.

Policy should aim to create an environment for innovation to thrive. Aligning regulatory frameworks, procurement strategies, and industry partnerships, while providing clear guidance from NASA, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), can reduce risk for investors and keep progress moving steadily toward commercial readiness.

During the Apollo era, the United States spent roughly $25 billion between 1960 and 1973 (around $250 billion today). At its peak, NASA’s budget was nearly 4% of total federal spending, a level we haven’t matched since. Today, NASA operates on about $25 billion a year, which means the agency relies far more on partnerships with the private sector. We don’t need an “Apollo-scale” program to succeed today, but we do need targeted funding to help build domestic manufacturing capacity and accelerate regulatory approval for SMRs.

Funding in Context

Building the SMR Ecosystem

SMR development requires a coordinated ecosystem across public-private partnerships.  Agencies like NASA and DOE should lead funding to support testbeds, while national labs and university-affiliated research centers (UARCs and FFRDCs) focus on materials, fuel cycles, and system integration. Private companies can then scale production and commercialize reactor designs, supported by manufacturing incentives and workforce training programs. International partners such as ESA and JAXA can share costs and harmonize standards.

Together, these efforts can turn nuclear energy from a specialized research project into the foundation for sustainable exploration on the Moon and beyond.

Key Policy Actions

  • Fund demonstration and deployment of SMRs through multi-year, milestone-based contracts that pair public investment with private-sector cost sharing.

  • Modernize regulatory pathways by streamlining NRC and DOE licensing and establishing clear standards for terrestrial and space-qualified fission systems.

  • Strengthen research and manufacturing capacity by investing in national labs, UARCs, and domestic supply chains to accelerate technology readiness and workforce development.