NASA has set a 2030 deadline to build a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the moon. It’s an ambitious but potentially achievable goal that could transform space exploration, experts tell WIRED.

Nuclear reactors in space may sound like something out of science fiction, but they are likely to prove important for powering long-term space missions.

NASA announced plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon on Tuesday, in an attempt to stay ahead of China and Russia in a new space race. The goal is to have the reactor built before 2030, a timeline set during the Biden administration.