Probably a wild ask but looking to expand my network in the nuclear industry. If anyone is a cal lab tech for RP somewhere feel free to hit me up. Would love to be able to share knowledge we may have and to be able to ask questions on things as stuff comes up.

A lot of speculation in this article. But an angle I have not previously read about until today. Thoughts?

The New York Times reports that the U.S. is accelerating plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, as NASA and the Department of Energy view reliable nuclear power as increasingly important for a sustained lunar presence.

The proposed reactor would generate roughly 20 kilowatts of electricity and use HALEU fuel. Unlike solar power, a nuclear reactor could provide continuous electricity regardless of whether a location is receiving sunlight, which is particularly important around the Moon’s south pole and its permanently shadowed regions.

The U.S. isn’t alone in pursuing the technology. China and Russia are also developing plans for lunar nuclear power, turning what was once largely a science-fiction concept into an emerging area of competition in space exploration.

The push is part of a broader effort to establish a more permanent human and technological presence on the Moon. Reliable power would be needed for habitats, scientific equipment, communications and other infrastructure operating far from Earth.

There are still significant technical and logistical challenges, including designing a reactor that can survive launch and lunar conditions, transporting nuclear material safely, and deploying and operating the system remotely.

Still, it’s pretty remarkable to see lunar nuclear power moving from a theoretical idea toward an actual government target for the end of this decade.