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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The facility directly addresses a need in the Department of Energy’s Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap for domestic high heat flux capability to study materials performance and lifetime in plasmas hotter than the sun.
Project backing for the high heat flux facility comes from the Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Sciences program within the Office of Science, Type One Energy, and the state of Tennessee.
UT Battelle manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The research team was led by Professor Su Il In of the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at DGIST.
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy have worked together for the last 50 years in areas including space exploration, technology development, and national security.
NASA is preparing to begin research and development of a fission nuclear reactor for operation on the surface of the Moon in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy.
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding on January 13 to collaborate on multiple space projects.
The NASA–Department of Energy collaboration includes deployment of nuclear reactors on the Moon and in orbit and development of a fission reactor on the lunar surface.
The Department of Energy will offer expertise in nuclear fuel, reactor design, safety, and regulatory processes for the system.
The collaboration builds on over 50 years of joint work between NASA and the Department of Energy in space exploration and technology development.
NASA and the Department of Energy have entered into a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing a fission surface power system for lunar use.
Past cooperation between NASA and DOE includes the provision of radioisotope power systems for deep space missions.
NASA and the Department of Energy signed a memorandum of understanding focused on developing lunar reactors by 2030 and utilizing nuclear power on the Moon and in orbit.
NASA announced a new commitment to support research and development of nuclear fission power systems for use on the Moon and future Mars exploration, in collaboration with the Department of Energy.
NASA is collaborating with the Department of Energy (DoE) to identify potential technologies and providers of fission surface power.
NASA and the DoE signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on nuclear fission surface power.
NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) committed to support research and development of nuclear fission surface power systems on the Moon for the Artemis program and Mars exploration missions.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright met with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman at the Department of Energy headquarters in Washington on January 8, 2026.
This agreement enables NASA and the DOE to work more closely together to provide the necessary capabilities for a new era of space exploration and discovery.
NASA is partnering with the Department of Energy to prepare a lunar nuclear reactor by 2030.