The White House has released a policy directing Nasa, the Pentagon and the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop space nuclear power systems that could launch as soon as 2028.

The six-page policy, released on 14 April, follows an executive order issued by president Donald Trump in December that also set out plans for nuclear reactors on the moon.

The goal is to start launching reactors into space as soon as 2028, with a lunar surface version ready as early as 2030.

Reactors would be necessary for any lengthy stay on the moon because each lunar day and each lunar night lasts about 14 Earth days. That means any moon base will experience two weeks of darkness followed by two weeks of light, ruling out solar power as a reliable and permanent source of energy. There are no fossil fuels, wind or flowing water on the moon to otherwise generate power.