Solar power fails during the 14-day lunar night, and chemical rockets are too slow for deep space travel, limiting our ability to build permanent bases or reach Mars quickly. The U.S. will deploy nuclear reactors in orbit by 2028 and on the Moon by 2030. These "fission" systems provide constant heat and high-speed propulsion independent of the sun. This ensures a permanent human presence on the Moon, cuts travel time to Mars, and boosts the economy with new "green" tech jobs and global space leadership.
