NASA and DOE sign agreement to accelerate nuclear power and propulsion for space missions

NASA and the Department of Energy formalized a partnership titled “Accelerating American Leadership in Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion” during a Washington event on Oct. 8, 2026.² The memorandum of understanding, signed by Administrator Jared Isaacman and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, becomes effective on Nov. 1.¹ The interagency framework covers the full spectrum of space nuclear work, from basic research and fuel production to testing, launch integration and mission operations.¹ Both agencies have placed safety as the core principle guiding all collaborative nuclear activities.¹ By linking basic research to mission operations, the agreement ensures that scientific discoveries can be rapidly turned into hardware that powers future spacecraft, a continuity that was previously fragmented across separate programs.¹ The safety emphasis is intended to protect both crewed missions and the broader public, reflecting lessons learned from earlier nuclear projects and aligning with international norms.¹

Isaacman described the shift as a major transformation he calls the “Nuclear NASA‑era.”² He explained that nuclear power will allow missions to travel farther, operate longer and enhance spacecraft and instrument capabilities.² Wright credited President Trump with expanding the nation’s nuclear renaissance into deep‑space exploration.² The quoted “Nuclear NASA‑era” signals a strategic pivot from chemical propulsion toward systems that can deliver megawatt‑scale power for decades, which could reshape mission architectures for crewed Mars trips.² Wright’s acknowledgment of presidential support underscores the political backing that makes long‑term funding for such high‑risk technology feasible.²

A Dec. 2025 presidential executive order directed NASA to develop a launch‑ready nuclear fission surface reactor for the Moon by 2030.² The new memorandum strengthens existing collaborations on both fission reactors and radioisotope power systems.² NASA plans to transition nuclear propulsion to operational deep‑space service with the launch of Space Reactor‑1 Freedom in 2028.² The 2030 lunar reactor deadline creates a clear milestone that ties the 2028 SR‑1 launch to a broader lunar infrastructure schedule, ensuring that each step builds on the previous one.² Achieving a launch‑ready reactor by 2030 will enable sustained power for lunar habitats, reducing reliance on solar energy that is unavailable during the two‑week night.¹²

Space Reactor‑1 Freedom will lay the groundwork for Lunar Reactor‑1, a surface fission system intended to power a future Moon base during night and shadowed periods.¹ Fission power is slated to support habitats, rovers, communications, scientific equipment, resource extraction, base infrastructure and future Mars missions.¹ The SR‑1 and LR‑1 programs are envisioned as the core of a domestic nuclear space manufacturing and industrial base.¹ By establishing a domestic supply chain for reactors and fuel, the United States aims to reduce dependence on foreign sources and create high‑tech jobs across the aerospace sector.¹ The ability to power habitats and rovers directly with fission means that lunar and Martian operations can run continuously, expanding scientific return and enabling longer‑duration human presence.¹

NASA also intends to launch the Dragonfly exploration mission to Titan in 2028.² Dragonfly, a car‑sized rotorcraft, will fly across multiple regions of Titan to assess the moon’s potential for life.² Dragonfly’s nuclear‑powered flight system will allow it to operate for months in Titan’s harsh, low‑light environment, something solar power could not sustain.² The mission’s focus on habitability directly supports the broader goal of using nuclear energy to explore worlds where sunlight is scarce, complementing lunar and Mars plans.¹²

In addition, NASA and DOE plan to provide 24 radioisotope heater units for Europe’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover to keep its instruments warm.² These heater units, while small, are critical for maintaining functionality of scientific payloads during the extreme cold of Martian nights.² Supplying the heaters demonstrates international collaboration and shows how U.S. nuclear technology can support partner missions beyond Earth orbit.¹²

Michael Kratsios leads the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which organized the Golden Age Summit.¹² The summit provided a venue for senior officials from NASA, DOE and other agencies to align on timelines, safety standards, and industrial strategy for space nuclear systems.¹²

NASA’s schedule includes launching both its first operational deep‑space nuclear reactor and the nuclear‑powered Dragonfly mission in 2028.² The 2030 deadline for a launch‑ready lunar surface reactor depends on the sequential development that begins with the 2028 Space Reactor‑1 launch.² Launching two high‑profile missions in the same year underscores the agency’s confidence in its engineering timeline and the integrated nature of the interagency plan.² Success in 2028 will validate the safety and performance assumptions that underpin the later lunar reactor effort, reducing risk for the 2030 milestone.²

Overall, NASA and DOE are applying nuclear technology to exploration targets beyond Earth orbit, specifically the Moon, Mars and Saturn’s moon Titan.¹ This multi‑planet approach spreads the benefits of nuclear power across a range of scientific and commercial objectives, from sustaining lunar bases to enabling long‑duration rover missions on Mars and powering innovative aircraft on Titan.¹² By coordinating under a single memorandum, the agencies aim to streamline procurement, share safety protocols, and accelerate the creation of a domestic industrial base that can support future deep‑space endeavors.¹