Tue Dec 02 00:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a news article rewrite:
Summary:
The article discusses the growing interest in using nuclear power for space exploration, particularly on the Moon and Mars. While solar power has limitations, nuclear power offers a compact, dense, and reliable energy source. The US is planning to deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon by the early 2030s, and technologies like radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) and compact fission reactors are being developed. The article highlights the need for an updated legal framework to govern the use of nuclear power in space. The current framework is limited and non-binding, potentially leading to accidents and contamination. The article urges India to play a leading role in shaping safe nuclear practices in space.
News Article:
Nuclear Dawn or Second Cold War? Growing Need for Space Nuclear Power Regulation
December 2, 2025 – As nations increasingly set their sights on establishing a long-term presence on the Moon and Mars, the question of power generation looms large. While solar energy offers a solution for some activities, its limitations, including lunar nights and scarcity at the poles, make nuclear power an attractive alternative. The US recently announced plans to deploy a small nuclear reactor on the Moon by the early 2030s, signaling a potential new era of space exploration.
Nuclear power offers a compact, dense, and reliable energy source. Technologies like radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) have powered deep-space missions, while compact fission reactors, about the size of a shipping container, can generate tens to hundreds of kilowatts, enough to power life support, laboratories, and manufacturing units.
However, the current international legal framework governing the use of nuclear power in space is outdated and inadequate. The 1992 United Nations Principles, the main guiding document, is non-binding and doesn’t cover nuclear propulsion systems or establish binding technical standards for reactor design and disposal. This leaves significant gaps, potentially leading to accidents and contamination of celestial bodies.
Experts are calling for an urgent update to the legal framework. This includes explicitly including propulsion reactors, establishing safety benchmarks, and defining end-of-life disposal standards. A multilateral oversight mechanism, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency, could certify designs, verify compliance, and enhance transparency.
The article further highlights the need for safe practices and ethical framework to avoid conflict that effort to expand nuclear technologies in space could give way to.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has the potential to play a leading role in this effort, championing safe nuclear practices and shaping norms for a multi-polar era.
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