BREAKING: America Will Build a Nuclear-Powered Moon Village (Yes, Really!)

The Trump administration has just dropped the boldest space commitment we’ve seen in half a century: America isn’t just going back to the Moon—we’re staying there. Acting NASA Administrator and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lit up the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney when he declared that within the next decade, the U.S. will establish a nuclear-powered village on the lunar surface. Not a temporary outpost. Not a short visit. A permanent foothold.

The plan builds directly on the Artemis program, which is already preparing to orbit the Moon in 2026 and land astronauts in 2027. But this time, the mission doesn’t end when the flag is planted. To survive the Moon’s brutal 14-day nights when solar power disappears, NASA will deploy a compact nuclear reactor—less than 15 tons—to keep the lights on, run life-support systems, and power experiments.

And they’re not planning to fly up ready-made houses. Astronauts will build using the Moon itself. Lunar soil mixed with binders will create cement, 3D printers will churn out structures, and the “village” will rise from resources already there. It’s part survival strategy, part technological moonshot.

Duffy framed the announcement as the opening move in a new space race. China is promising to land a crew on the Moon by 2030, but America’s move to build a nuclear-powered base before then makes it clear who intends to lead. The goal stretches far beyond the Moon. Proving we can live off-Earth long-term is a critical stepping stone toward President Trump’s bigger vision: American boots on Mars.

It’s worth remembering—no one has set foot on the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. Half a century later, Trump’s administration is ready to break that dry spell in spectacular fashion. Even Elon Musk, though quiet on this latest announcement, already signaled his support when he posted in 2024: “Vote for @realDonaldTrump if you want humanity to make it to Mars!”

The timeline is as ambitious as the vision. Duffy committed to putting American astronauts back on the Moon before Trump leaves office, planting not just a flag but the foundation of a village. For the first time in history, humanity isn’t just talking about visiting space. Under Trump, America is talking about living there.