NASA plans to install nuclear reactor on Moon by 2030

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the US Department of Energy have renewed their collaboration to create a nuclear fission reactor for deployment on the Moon's surface.

According to an announcement from the aerospace agency, they hope to finish the development stage, which will likely include Earth-based testing, for this facility by 2030. 

The reactor is expected to offer sustainable energy for future lunar missions, thus removing the need for ongoing fuel shipments from Earth.

"This agreement," says NASA administrator Jared Isaacman, "enables closer collaboration between NASA and the Department of Energy to deliver the capabilities necessary to usher in the Golden Age of space exploration and discovery."

The task ahead is daunting. Constructing a nuclear reactor that is safe and dependable on Earth is tough enough. 

The Moon presents a unique set of challenges. Its harsh environment raises significant concerns for fission reactor designs, with heat dissipation being a major hurdle.

On Earth, reactor cooling towers rely on water, which releases surplus energy as steam that the atmosphere carries away. 

However, fluids behave differently in the Moon's low-gravity and low-pressure environment; the Moon resembles a near-vacuum with no real swirling atmosphere to remove heat.

Potential solutions involve solid-state conduction and liquid metal coolants, but both add new layers of complexity to the design.

Additionally, radiation shielding needs sufficient strength to safeguard any nearby lunar explorers.