Is NASA going to put a nuclear reactor on the moon? Here's what Sean Duffy said about U.S. race against China in space and going to Mars.

The reactor would launch to the moon by 2030, according to a directive by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy that was sent to NASA officials in July and obtained by NPR. It's an ambitious target that has some in the scientific community concerned about high costs and a potentially unrealistic schedule.

In a sharp pivot toward faster implementation, NASA is now planning to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, as confirmed by acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy during a press conference this week.