The acceleration of nuclear development is part of the Trump administration’s efforts to focus NASA on human spaceflight. A reactor would be useful for long-term stays on the moon.

Sean Duffy wants to fast‑track plans for a lunar nuclear reactor in his first major move as interim NASA chief amid looming budget cuts.

Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy sees the plan to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon as a new space race, especially given China's and Russia's growing ambitions in space