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demmiblue

(38,623 posts) Mon Aug 4, 2025, 05:27 PM Aug 4

Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon [View all]

Source: Politico

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will announce expedited plans this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon, the first major action by the former Fox News host as the interim NASA administrator.

NASA has discussed building a reactor on the lunar surface, but this would set a more definitive timeline — according to documents obtained by POLITICO — and come just as the agency faces a massive budget cut. The move also underscores how Duffy, who faced pushback from lawmakers about handling two jobs, wants to play a role in NASA policymaking.

“It is about winning the second space race,” said a NASA senior official, granted anonymity to discuss the documents ahead of their wider release.

President Donald Trump named Duffy as interim administrator in July after abruptly withdrawing the nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman amid a spat with the nominee’s ally, Elon Musk.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/04/nasa-china-space-station-duffy-directives-00492172

134 replies

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Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon [View all] demmiblue Aug 4 OP

Somebody didn't see Space 1999. Intractable Aug 4 #1

I love that series! markodochartaigh Aug 4 #7

With Space 1999, there's much to "whine" about while eating the cheese. Intractable Aug 4 #15

Cool show! Brings back good memories. :) Dave Bowman Aug 4 #9

I came here to post this very item IbogaProject Aug 4 #12

First thing I thought of Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Tuesday #89

OMFG montanacowboy Aug 4 #2

I can't even understand why this would be a goal of anyone genxlib Aug 4 #3

Oddly enough, this could actually be one of the rare "good ideas" pursued by the F47 regime 0rganism Aug 4 #19

instead of the man in the moon ... DBoon Aug 4 #32

Truly awful, yes, but still preferable to trying to establish a half-assed Mars colony without running a moon base first 0rganism Aug 4 #41

Um lonely bird Aug 4 #42

The scary thing is, I think THEY think they are MadameButterfly Tuesday #78

Or a penal colony on. the moon? flamingdem Aug 4 #68

If it's too small to be seen with the naked eye, it'll be called a "micro"-penal colony 0rganism Tuesday #76

That would be micro-penile RainCaster Tuesday #80

With cooling towers and massive amounts of water? Martin Eden Tuesday #95

They would need alternative cooling strategies, as dark-side temps run around -130'C and sunlit-side +120'C 0rganism Tuesday #123

It's a huge investment, so careful planning & purpose are essential Martin Eden Tuesday #124

"What possible use would energy on the moon be" PSPS Aug 4 #24

Such devices would be there to power a future base, refining local resources, research, etc. Gore1FL Aug 4 #56

Maybe a really, really long extension cord Seinan Sensei Tuesday #73

It could power Trump's ego DBoon Tuesday #103

advertising billboard lapfog_1 Aug 4 #38

Just another distraction from Epstein. MacKasey Aug 4 #4

🥱😴 ... & ... 😜🤣😂🤣😜🤣😂🤣😜😜 Oopsie Daisy Aug 4 #5

Yes BigMin28 Aug 4 #6

What's the point? How stupid. Srkdqltr Aug 4 #8

I'm all for space exploration but this is dumb. Dave Bowman Aug 4 #10

Well okay BumRushDaShow Aug 4 #11

Here's an idea, Duffy - put pressure on Musk to sort out his "Spaceship" vehicle muriel_volestrangler Aug 4 #13

I'm more in favor of a safe airline industry and FAA safety. Norrrm Aug 4 #14

Planning for a reactor on the moon dates back at least to the Obama administration onenote Aug 4 #16

fuel Nasruddin Aug 4 #17

I'm shocked that the source isn't the Onion. greatauntoftriplets Aug 4 #18

Or the Simpsons GreenWave Aug 4 #27

I kept looking for Onion or Borrowitz MadameButterfly Tuesday #81

Maybe we should fix our planet first. chowder66 Aug 4 #20

Bah, no profit or glamour in that! OldBaldy1701E Tuesday #96

Um, why? Mz Pip Aug 4 #21

It's the planned... littlemissmartypants Aug 4 #54

To make RICH men RICHER with ZERO results Bengus81 Tuesday #94

...But we can't have universal health care. I can't wrap my fucking head around this idiocy. Karasu Aug 4 #22

And you left out 900 million to refurb the Qatari luxury jetliner. yellow dahlia Aug 4 #34

Oh, geez. There's obviously plenty I left out, or I'd be here all day, but I really don't know how I missed THAT one. Karasu Aug 4 #39

I'm shocked nobody has floated the idea on how to project the AT&T or Amazon logo on the moon surface... EarthFirst Aug 4 #23

Why not Windmills? thought crime Aug 4 #25

Such an evil thing to say... hunter Aug 4 #63

Duffy is an idiot! BidenRocks Aug 4 #26

Not duffeys's plan RoseTrellis Tuesday #99

No money for healthcare, education, science, social security, medicare. Irish_Dem Aug 4 #28

What could go wrong? yellow dahlia Aug 4 #31

Right, what happens if the idiots blow up the moon? Irish_Dem Aug 4 #33

That's what I said - Moon? Who needs a moon? yellow dahlia Aug 4 #37

What could go wrong with one of Musk's rockets carrying nukes. Irish_Dem Aug 4 #40

I had to look twice to make sure it wasn't The Onion DBoon Aug 4 #29

Me too! WestMichRad Aug 4 #48

I just turned to Mr. Dahlia and said: What's wrong with these people? yellow dahlia Aug 4 #30

The project is set to start in two weeks. sop Aug 4 #35

You have got to be fucking kidding me. Karasu Aug 4 #66

Yes, I am kidding. sop Aug 4 #67

I can't believe I didn't pick up on that! LOL!!! Karasu Tuesday #74

shithole and comrades cut NASA monies and staff and are pissed off at musk................... Lovie777 Aug 4 #36

Trump needs to . . . AverageOldGuy Aug 4 #43

How much fissionable material would be needed. The Madcap Aug 4 #44

That was my first thought as well. thucythucy Tuesday #105

At least it would be taking off from TX or FL. The Madcap Tuesday #113

Why would put a reactor on the most Aviation Pro Aug 4 #45

It required lots of power to extract Helium 3 Abnredleg Tuesday #110

Shot over Aviation Pro Tuesday #114

Shot out!! Abnredleg Tuesday #115

SQUIRREL!!! maspaha Aug 4 #46

So let me see if I understand angrychair Aug 4 #47

Your assessment is exactly correct. llmart Aug 4 #60

I can understand how a moon reactor can produce heat.... reACTIONary Aug 4 #49

NNadir is really our DU expert in this area. ... littlemissmartypants Aug 4 #57

I don't think a steam turbine would be a problem in principle muriel_volestrangler Tuesday #85

You may be right. I sort of dismissed the idea without much thought. reACTIONary Tuesday #121

Um ok, why not solar? BWdem4life Aug 4 #50

I had the same question C_U_L8R Aug 4 #51

There are a lot of impact sites ... littlemissmartypants Aug 4 #58

Night time on the moon lasts about 14 days. hunter Aug 4 #64

Thanks. I knew it got dark, but I don't know for how long. reACTIONary Aug 4 #70

Solar is defiantly in the plan - plus there is a nation state issue... reACTIONary Aug 4 #69

declare away. put a reactor on the moon and MadameButterfly Tuesday #83

It does seem that an "exclusion zone" would be hard to enforce.... reACTIONary Tuesday #120

a nuclear reactor on the moon MadameButterfly Wednesday #128

A moon nuke... reACTIONary Wednesday #129

You think they could monitor a reactor on the moon MadameButterfly Thursday #130

Yep... They sure can! reACTIONary Thursday #131

Sorry if I'm missing the point MadameButterfly Friday #133

You asked if I think.... reACTIONary Friday #134

too woke. But yeah, duh MadameButterfly Tuesday #82

I thought reactors require cooling water The Blue Flower Aug 4 #52

Air cooled reactors have been around since the 1960's Abnredleg Tuesday #111

"Air cooling" is not exactly a lunar option, with no air muriel_volestrangler Tuesday #119

It was great for mankind to go to the moon 56 years ago. Jacson6 Aug 4 #53

Elon... littlemissmartypants Aug 4 #59

If he wants to privately fund it then he can do it. No since wasting tax payers money to go to bunch of rocks. n/t Jacson6 Tuesday #102

(!) Marcuse Aug 4 #55

Well, if we cancel the multi-trillion dollar tax cut for billionaires, that *might* pay for it... Jack Valentino Aug 4 #61

Translation: We intend to drain a lot of money into our pockets, but good luck mahina Aug 4 #62

I don't see anything wrong with the basic premise. hunter Aug 4 #65

Yes. Location, Location, Location. reACTIONary Aug 4 #71

Who VOTED for that? nt SouthBayDem Aug 4 #72

There's very little gravity on the moon , right? Figarosmom Tuesday #75

Just send the building materials to the moon on trucks. Botany Tuesday #97

This plus a dome covering the entire country? IcyPeas Tuesday #77

This is not simple. And it is terrifying. colorado_ufo Tuesday #79

Old project initiated in November, 2021. RoseTrellis Tuesday #84

Actually a continuation of efforts that began in 2015 onenote Tuesday #88

Wow RoseTrellis Tuesday #91

A bad idea is a bad idea thucythucy Tuesday #112

We aren't even a year in JustAnotherGen Tuesday #86

There is probably no one on this board as pronuclear energy as I am. This said... NNadir Tuesday #87

Hi NNadir, I'm always glad to see you here. thucythucy Tuesday #117

The MF wanted to blow the moon up. I remember. Here we go. twodogsbarking Tuesday #90

Gonna need a real long extension cord Conjuay Tuesday #92

Maybe build the Ballroom 3825-87867 Tuesday #93

Let's see. hazard pay and shipping and logicstics, OK 40 trillion sir, please click here to finalize your order. Brainfodder Tuesday #98

Please, lets get him a one way ticket. milestogo Tuesday #100

Kick. I duped you. underpants Tuesday #101

Gil Scott Heron anticipated this long ago DBoon Tuesday #104

How about announcing improvements to the Air Traffic Control system. Sneederbunk Tuesday #106

Republican announces daycare center on Mars. ananda Tuesday #107

Just sayin' Docreed2003 Tuesday #108

This is part of Project Artemis Abnredleg Tuesday #109

Long term it's a good idea NickB79 Tuesday #116

I have the most idiotic, stupid, brain-dead government in history. Torchlight Tuesday #118

Duffy has entered the "How stupid can you get?" contest Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Tuesday #122

Even if this were feasible mysuzuki2 Tuesday #125

That ought to lower grocery prices and utility bills for Americans dalton99a Tuesday #126

That's one of the most idiotic ideas I've heard in a long time. What are you going to use to cool the reactor? patphil Tuesday #127

Surely Duffy is afraid of the moon if he is afraid of riding the subway. travelingthrulife Thursday #132