Sean Duffy wants to fast-track putting a 100kw nuclear reactor on the moon, according to a directive he sent out Thursday. It would help win the "space race."

NASA's acting administrator, Sean Duffy, plans to accelerate the construction of a nuclear reactor that could be used on the moon and alter the way NASA will partner with industry to replace the aging International Space Station.

The Trump administration is pushing efforts to place a nuclear reactor on the moon to power a future human base. A newly revealed directive from acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy outlines a goal to launch the reactor by 2030, a timeline some scientists warn could be too ambitious due to high costs and technical challenges.