The reactor would launch to the moon by 2030, according to a directive by Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy that was sent to NASA officials in July and obtained by NPR. It’s an ambitious target that has some in the scientific community concerned about high costs and a potentially unrealistic schedule.

NASA is fast-tracking plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2030 as a strategic imperative to prevent Chinese dominance.

Sean Duffy wants to fast-track putting a 100kw nuclear reactor on the moon, according to a directive he sent out Thursday. It would help win the "space race."