The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plays a crucial role in the space industry by providing essential technologies and research support for space exploration and national security missions. It acts as a key partner with NASA and other agencies in developing space-based power systems, including radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) and fission surface power systems, which provide electricity and heat in the harsh conditions of space. The DOE also contributes to space science research, particularly in understanding dark matter and dark energy, and supports the development of quantum technologies for space applications. Keywords associated with the DOE's space involvement include radioisotope power systems, space nuclear power, quantum technology, NASA partnerships, and space exploration.
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Infleqtion is executing a contract under the US Department of Energy's $6.2 million ARPA-E ENCODE program to apply quantum computing capabilities to energy grid optimization tasks.
Sebastian Corbisiero is the Department of Energy’s Space Reactor Initiative national technical director.
NASA and the Department of Energy expect the planned lunar reactor system to provide safe, efficient, and abundant electrical power for years without refueling, enabling continuous operations regardless of local lighting or temperature conditions.
Past cooperation between NASA and the Department of Energy includes provision of radioisotope power systems and other nuclear technologies that have enabled missions to operate far from the Sun or in extreme environments.
The agreement calls for NASA and the Department of Energy to work together on developing, fueling, authorizing, and readying a fission surface power system for launch and deployment on the lunar surface.
A new memorandum of understanding between NASA and the Department of Energy formalizes collaboration on the development and deployment of nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit aligned with President Trump’s goal of American space superiority.
The Department of Energy will contribute expertise in nuclear fuel, reactor design, safety, and authorization processes to ensure the lunar power system meets performance and regulatory requirements.
By pursuing a lunar surface reactor, NASA and the Department of Energy aim to create a power system that can be adapted for future Mars missions and other deep space activities.
NASA and the Department of Energy present the lunar fission effort as a strategic component of U.S. leadership in space commerce and technology.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman supports using nuclear power to achieve NASA’s lunar and Mars objectives and views the new NASA–DOE agreement as contributing capabilities for an expanded era of space exploration.
In December 1993 Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary initiated the largest declassification of information in Department of Energy history, including acknowledgment of many nuclear tests and nuclear weapons accidents during the Cold War.
IonQ signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Energy in July 2025 to advance development and deployment of quantum technologies in space.
The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 includes amendments to encourage NASA’s coordination with the Department of Energy to support space nuclear research and development.
Sebastian Corbisiero is the Department of Energy Space Reactor Initiative national technical director.
The INL report outlines a "Go Big or Go Home" option to build a 100–500 kilowatts-electric power project led by NASA or the Department of War with support from the Department of Energy.
The RADAR work received support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.
The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science user facility dedicated to open science.
A collaboration led by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory developed the RADAR framework in partnership with Johns Hopkins University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy committed to support research and development of fission power systems intended for use on the Moon and similar environments.
The National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy jointly supported the Dark Energy Survey project.