Humans could live on the moon by 2030 as scientists plan lunar base

When people imagine the future of space exploration, images of rockets, lunar landers and astronauts in gleaming suits usually come to mind. But if humans are ever going to live sustainably on the Moon, one technology will be far more important than any of those: nuclear power.

Governments and space agencies around the world have revived plans for permanent lunar bases. NASA’s Artemis programme aims to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade, while the European Space Agency and China have both floated ideas for long-term outposts. These bases will require reliable power for life-support systems, science labs and habitation modules—something solar panels alone cannot provide during the two-week-long lunar night. Dr Tim Gregory, cosmochemist, who is speaking at New Scientist Live in October, said: "Nuclear power is about as green as it gets. It uses the least amount of land of any power source; it has the lowest mining intensity of any power source; it’s got a carbon footprint the same as wind power; and it doesn’t release air pollution."

That reputation on Earth is already misunderstood, he argued, but the case for nuclear becomes even clearer once you look to space.

Dr Gregory said: "NASA aims to put a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030. It sounds a bit ambitious to me, but even if they’re a decade late, it’s not that long to wait. I’d be shocked if there aren’t nuclear reactors on the Moon supporting human habitats within my lifetime."

The challenge is obvious: solar power is unreliable in space environments where sunlight is either scarce or intermittent. On the Moon, for example, the night lasts a punishing 14 Earth days. Dr Gregory said: "If you want people living on the Moon long term, you need a stable and consistent source of energy. That’s exactly what nuclear can do."

For many, nuclear still carries the stigma of waste and safety concerns. Dr Gregory said: "Per terawatt-hour of electricity, nuclear is as safe as wind and solar. More people die from fossil fuel air pollution every couple of hours than have died of nuclear power ever. And so splitting atoms in nuclear power stations is actually one of the safest things our species does."

On the waste issue, he said the scale is often wildly misrepresented. Dr Gregory said: "If you powered your entire life from nuclear power, the waste would barely fill a wine glass. It’s about the same size as a small coffee cup. And so there isn’t that much nuclear waste for an enormous amount of power."

Solutions to manage that waste already exist. Dr Gregory said: "Finland have implemented a working geological storage solution for nuclear waste. By leaving it underground for a million years or so, its radioactivity will decay into almost nothingness. A million years sounds like a long time, but geologically it’s the blink of an eye."

Asked about the misconceptions that irritate him most, Dr Gregory said: "There’s a perception that nuclear power is dirty, but it couldn’t be further from the truth."

All of this, he argues, makes nuclear uniquely suited to space. Compact, reliable, and requiring minimal fuel mass compared to chemical alternatives, it is the logical backbone for long-term lunar settlements. Dr Gregory said: "You couldn’t ask for a better technology to take with you if you want to live on another world."

What was once science fiction is now firmly on the horizon. With multiple international efforts exploring small modular reactors and space-rated designs, the dream of powering human colonies on the Moon is no longer far-fetched.

Dr Gregory said: "I’d be shocked if there aren’t nuclear reactors on the Moon supporting human habitats within my lifetime."

The technology is not just about energy—it’s about possibility. Stable, abundant power opens the door to science labs, greenhouses, manufacturing plants and life-support systems on the lunar surface. Without it, dreams of Moon bases and Mars missions remain grounded.

Dr Gregory said: "Nuclear is misunderstood on Earth, but in space, I think people will quickly see its value. It’s clean, it’s safe, and it’s the key to making the extraordinary ordinary—living and working beyond our planet."