In a sharp pivot toward faster implementation, NASA is now planning to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, as confirmed by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy during a press conference this week.

Science budget? Whatever. It's all about beating China and Russia NASA's Acting Administrator, Sean Duffy, has directed the US space agency to come up with a plan to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon.

The reactor would launch to the moon by 2030, according to a directive by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy that was sent to NASA officials in July and obtained by NPR. It's an ambitious target that has some in the scientific community concerned about high costs and a potentially unrealistic schedule.