NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate the development of nuclear power and propulsion technologies for space missions. The agreement, signed on October 8, 2026, at the Golden Age Summit in Washington, takes effect on November 1, 2026.
The collaboration covers the entire development cycle, including research, fuel production, testing, and launch integration. This partnership supports the directive from the December 2025 Executive Order to develop a lunar surface reactor by 2030.
The agencies are working on the Space Reactor-1 Freedom, scheduled for launch in 2028, which marks the transition of nuclear propulsion to operational deep-space use. This will be followed by the Lunar Reactor-1, designed to provide power for a future Moon base.
NASA is also expanding the use of radioisotope power systems. The Dragonfly mission to Titan, set for 2028, will utilize a Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator and 24 heater units. Additionally, the agencies will supply 24 heater units for the ESA Rosalind Franklin Mars rover.
