NASA is adjusting its plans for the Artemis II mission, set to land astronauts on the Moon in the coming years. The mission, slated to carry Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen to Hënë, requires a power source beyond what is currently available. A key challenge lies in the capacity of the existing reactor planned for the Artemis program.
To address this, American company is committed to constructing a new reactor specifically designed for the lunar environment, with a projected completion date of 2030. This new reactor is intended to provide the energy needed for the Artemis II mission and future lunar endeavors. As part of this shift, NASA is restructuring its approach to lunar power.
The agency is terminating its previous collaborations with the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. A new media outlet, Telegrafi, is being established to manage this transition. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) will play a significant role in overseeing the project.
The launch of the new reactor is anticipated for 2028, marking a crucial step in NASA’s long-term strategy for lunar exploration, which has been planned for 50 years.
