Nasa is set to fast-track plans for the construction of a nuclear reactor on the Moon and to replace the International Space Station with one built by private industry.
The directives are expected to be announced soon by US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who selected by President Donald Trump as Nasa’s interim administrator in July.
The space agency is undergoing major restructuring, with mass layoffs and budget cuts that will heavily impact its scientific programmes and place a greater focus on crewed exploration.
The push for an accelerated timeline is also a response to China and Russia’s plans for a lunar reactor, which was announced last year as part of their joint International Lunar Research Station, to be launched in 2033.
“While solar power systems have limitations on the Moon, a nuclear reactor could be placed in permanently shadowed areas, where there may be water ice, or generate power continuously during lunar nights, which are 14-and-a-half Earth days long,” Nasa said in a statement last year.
Powering future missions
A nuclear reactor would give Nasa a reliable power source for future missions to the Moon and Mars, where sunlight is limited by long nights and dust storms.
It would help keep astronauts alive, run habitats and support scientific work in those harsh environments.
The agency plans to return humans to the Moon under its Artemis programme and eventually crews to Mars from there.
Nasa has been working on plans for a lunar reactor since 2008 when the Fission Surface Power project was announced. Technical challenges, limited funding and a changing political landscape have brought many delays.
The agency still does not have a confirmed leader. Mr Duffy, who has no background in space exploration, was appointed after the White House abruptly withdrew its nomination of billionaire Jared Isaacman.
What is the timeline?
In one of his directives, Mr Duffy is expected to order Nasa to select a contractor within 60 days to lead the design and construction of a 100-kilowatt nuclear fission reactor that could be deployed on the Moon by 2030.
The memo, which has been seen by The National, warns that if China or Russia were to deploy a nuclear system first, they could potentially establish territorial restrictions around it, creating geopolitical challenges for US activities on the Moon.
A second directive aims to speed up the replacement of the ISS with at least two privately-operated space stations.
The goal is to have them ready by the time the station is decommissioned in 2030.
Nasa has been working with companies such as Axiom Space, Blue Origin and Starlab to develop low-Earth orbit destinations, but Mr Duffy’s directive reshapes how the contracts are managed and paid for.
Once the ISS is retired, China’s Tiangong will become the only station in low-Earth orbit.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
