NASA announces plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030

Internal documents revealed that the American space agency "NASA" intends to build a nuclear reactor on the surface of the Moon, in a move aimed at enhancing its presence in space amid international competition, especially with China, which seeks to send crewed missions to the Moon around the same time.
According to the "Politico" news site, NASA will request proposals from specialized companies within 60 days to design a nuclear reactor with a capacity of 100 kilowatts, expected to be operational by 2030. The acting agency director, Shawn Duffy, is expected to announce the official details soon.
The reactor will provide a stable power source for future missions on the Moon, especially during the lunar night period, which lasts about two weeks, when solar power is unavailable. This comes as part of the "Artemis" program, through which NASA plans to return astronauts to the Moon's surface for the first time in over 50 years, with a goal of landing a crew by 2027, despite repeated delays to the timeline.
It is worth noting that the idea of a lunar nuclear reactor is not new, as it was previously proposed by Russia years ago, but NASA has recently intensified its research in this area. These plans come amid escalating space competition, as the United States seeks to enhance its space leadership while facing challenges related to funding and political support, especially with the current U.S. administration's unclear stance on continuing to support the program.