White House orders Pentagon to launch nuclear reactors into space by 2028, thrusting America into a high-stakes race against China and Russia for orbital dominance.
Story Highlights
- President Trump’s administration mandates orbital nuclear reactors by 2028 and lunar deployment by 2030 under the National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power.
- Pentagon and NASA launch competing designs, leveraging private sector innovation to achieve space superiority.
- Initiative counters China and Russia’s advancing space nuclear programs, prioritizing American leadership in exploration, commerce, and defense.
- Pentagon selects Buckley and Malmstrom Air Force Bases for terrestrial microreactor tests, pending approvals.
Policy Directive Unveiled
Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, announced the National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. The six-page policy memo directs the Pentagon to deploy a mid-power orbital reactor by 2028 and NASA to ready a lunar fission surface power reactor for launch by 2030. This builds on President Trump’s December 2025 executive order for American space superiority. The plan accelerates decades of stalled microreactor development through dual agency competitions and private partnerships. It emphasizes cost-effective designs to power future missions.
Agency Roles and Timelines
The Pentagon must brief White House offices within 90 days on use cases, payloads, and mission timing. NASA targets a mid-power space reactor with lunar variants, while the Pentagon pursues orbital demonstrations by 2031, contingent on funding. In the first year, the Department of Defense contributes funding to NASA efforts. From the second year, it advances at least two vendors through design reviews and ground tests. High-power reactors over 100 kilowatts follow in the 2030s. This structure ensures focused execution amid international competition.
Strategic Response to Global Rivals
The initiative directly addresses China and Russia’s space nuclear advancements, following NASA’s August 2025 lunar reactor announcement to counter them. White House policy states the United States will lead in space nuclear power for exploration, commerce, and defense. Private vendors compete for contracts, fostering innovation while adhering to government specs. The Department of Energy provides nuclear expertise. This approach shifts from past regulatory hurdles, prioritizing high-level executive focus for ambitious yet achievable goals that secure America’s edge.
On April 8, 2026, the Air Force selected Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana as preferred sites for up to 20-megawatt microreactors by 2030. These ground tests support space deployments but require environmental and licensing approvals. Local communities face potential impacts, highlighting tensions between progress and oversight.
"Put #nuclear reactors in #space within a few years, White House tells #Pentagon"https://t.co/39xKluziQv
— Ville Kostian (@Kostian_V) April 15, 2026
Expert Views and Challenges
Michael Kratsios justified the push: nuclear power provides sustained electricity, heating, and propulsion for permanent Moon and Mars presence. Dr. Harrison questioned feasibility, noting Earth-based microreactor demos by 2028 remain challenging, let alone in space. No operational U.S. space reactors or Earth microreactors exist yet. Uncertainties include technical specs, funding, vendor selections, and base approvals. Despite skepticism, the plan legitimizes nuclear power for space, driving compact design innovations and new commercial markets while reinforcing traditional American ingenuity against foreign threats.
Sources:
Remarks by Director Kratsios at the Endless Frontiers Retreat
Put nuclear reactors in space within a few years, White House tells Pentagon
White House wants Pentagon to demo nuclear space power by 2031
NASA, Pentagon nuclear space reactors
Buckley, Malmstrom nuclear microreactors
NASA to build permanent base on moon, test space-based nuclear power
