NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy renewed their partnership to develop a fission surface power system for the Moon and future Mars missions under the Artemis program.

A new memorandum of understanding formalizes the collaboration, aiming to deploy a lunar surface nuclear reactor by 2030.

The system is designed to provide safe, efficient, and continuous electrical power for sustained lunar operations, independent of sunlight or temperature.

NASA and DOE officials said the effort continues America’s legacy of pioneering space and nuclear technology, highlighting the role of innovation in maintaining U.S. leadership in space exploration, NASA has reported.

The partnership builds on over 50 years of collaboration in space technology, research, and national security.