NASA and Energy Department sign MOU on space nuclear power and propulsion

what happened

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright signed a memorandum of understanding titled "Accelerating American Leadership in Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion," effective November 1, per NASA. The agreement establishes an end-to-end framework spanning research, fuel production, testing, launch integration and operations. NASA named specific programs under the framework: the SR-1 Freedom nuclear-propulsion mission targeting a 2028 launch, a Lunar Reactor-1 fission surface power system for Moon Base operations with a 2030 target date, radioisotope power systems for the Dragonfly mission to Titan, and radioisotope heater units supporting ESA's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover. Isaacman told Payload NASA will beat the national space policy's original 2030 target, with the Moon Base's first element launching in December and near-monthly uncrewed robotic missions starting in early 2027 to position hardware before astronauts arrive, and that NASA will run a public website with the National Design Studio so the public can track construction in real time.

why it matters

The MOU is the interagency vehicle that activates NASA's nuclear-propulsion roadmap, which already runs through commercial contractors: SR-1 Freedom's build involves Firefly Aerospace and AeroVironment, and the lunar fission reactor program will mean further competitive awards. Nuclear-propulsion and power contractors, and launch providers serving NASA's deep-space manifest, should expect procurement activity on this framework's timeline to pick up.

NASA and Energy Department sign MOU on space nuclear power and propulsion

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