NASA, under directives from the Trump administration, is accelerating plans to build a 100-kilowatt nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030. This initiative aims to establish U.S. dominance in lunar exploration and energy infrastructure ahead of geopolitical rivals China and Russia, who are targeting automated nuclear power stations on the Moon by 2035. The project is viewed as a foundational step toward creating humanity's first off-world power grid and securing territorial presence in space. The accelerated timeline raises complex legal and technological challenges, particularly concerning space law and the deployment of small modular reactors, which have been slow to implement even on Earth. The U.S. effort reflects a broader intensification of the space race, with the nuclear reactor seen not only as an energy source but also as a strategic asset in the competition for control over the lunar environment.