NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Accelerate Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Technologies

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) formally signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a summit hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), establishing a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the two parties in the fields of space nuclear power and nuclear propulsion systems, aimed at replacing and revising two previously reached related agreements.

The memorandum is titled "Accelerating American Leadership in Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion," with the scope of cooperation covering key areas including space nuclear technology research and development, scientific exploration, nuclear fuel production, ground and flight testing, launch integration, and subsequent on-orbit operations management.

The memorandum will formally take effect on November 1, with a validity period of ten years, and may be amended or extended in accordance with regulations upon expiration. The document revises and replaces two prior historical agreements between the two parties: the radioisotope power systems memorandum signed on October 31, 2016, which was originally set to expire at the end of this month, and the space fission systems memorandum signed on December 22, 2025; interagency agreements already established under the earlier memorandum framework will continue to remain in effect.

The memorandum explicitly states that enabling humanity to achieve sustained survival and presence in the solar system is a major engineering challenge of this century, requiring power systems capable of stable operation in any extreme environment——whether during the long lunar night, in Mars orbit, or in orbits beyond Jupiter where the Sun is as faint as an ordinary star; whether nuclear fission reactors or radioisotope nuclear batteries, nuclear energy is the core power and propulsion method for achieving this goal. The cooperation document draws upon NASA's core expertise in spaceflight systems, scientific exploration, and technology transfer, as well as DOE's deep strength in the research, development, manufacturing, and demonstration of nuclear batteries, nuclear reactors, and propulsion systems. Both parties agreed to engage in deep collaboration on radioisotope power systems, fission power systems, and other deep space exploration technologies that may in the future be powered by nuclear materials.

In terms of specific division of responsibilities, NASA will be responsible for overall mission authority and project decision-making for spaceflight missions, completing the installation and application testing of space nuclear systems according to flight mission requirements, and sharing project progress and core data with DOE; NASA may procure space nuclear systems developed by commercial entities or led by other government departments, and such systems must fully comply with DOE's stringent safety analysis specifications in addition to obtaining approval and licensing from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). DOE will be responsible for the design, development, processing and manufacturing, performance evaluation, ground testing, and final delivery of space nuclear systems (including nuclear fuel production at necessary stages), as well as for the use approval and safety control of nuclear materials, and will provide NASA with comprehensive technical support for pre-launch ground operations and spacecraft assembly and integration of nuclear-powered systems.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright attended the ceremony and signed on behalf of both parties, with White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios witnessing the event. Isaacman stated that humanity is entering the "nuclear-powered NASA era," a transformation marking a major upgrade in deep space exploration paradigms; nuclear energy will enable spacecraft to travel farther, operate longer, and carry more powerful payload instruments, laying a solid foundation for future fission-powered deep space vessels. Wright stated that the Department of Energy is deeply proud to deepen cooperation with NASA and help U.S. space missions reach the unknown frontiers of deep space.

In advancing space nuclear energy planning, NASA announced in March of this year the "Space Reactor-1 Freedom" nuclear electric propulsion rocket project, planned for launch in December 2028, prioritizing the construction needs of a permanent lunar base; the project will provide key technology validation for the follow-on fission power system for lunar surface bases, "Lunar Reactor-1" (LR-1). In September of this year, NASA also issued a solicitation for the prototype design and development of Stirling radioisotope generators for lunar surface applications; NASA is currently steadily advancing the joint development of a lunar surface fission reactor with DOE, with the goal of being ready for formal launch before 2030.