Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy issued a directive prioritizing the development and deployment of nuclear reactors on the moon before China and Russia. This "Fission Surface Power Program" aims to provide sustainable energy for a lunar base, crucial for US space exploration and national security. A second directive focuses on accelerating the creation of International Space Station replacements before its 2030 retirement. The initiative stems from concerns about potential Chinese-Russian collaborations to establish a lunar presence and control key resources.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.