New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- Summary NASA's plan to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030 is part of a strategic infrastructure race, not an arms race, as countries vie for influence in space.

While nuclear power on the Moon is neither illegal nor unprecedented, it raises questions about access and power.

The 1967 Outer Space Treaty governs space activity, ensuring peaceful use and cooperation among nations.

The first space race was about flags and footprints. Now, decades later, landing on the Moon is old news. The new race is to build there and doing so hinges on power.

In April 2025, China reportedly unveiled plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2035. This plant would support its planned international lunar research s...