AsianFin -- NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy is set to announce an accelerated timeline for building a nuclear reactor on the Moon, marking his first major initiative since taking the helm, according to U.S. media outlet Politico.

The directive calls for industry proposals to develop a 100-kilowatt nuclear fission system capable of being launched before 2030. The report repeatedly references China, quoting the directive as warning that the first nation to deploy such a reactor on the Moon could “declare an exclusion zone that significantly restricts U.S. activity.”

The urgency reflects growing concern in Washington over the joint lunar initiatives led by China and Russia. NASA’s instruction mandates the appointment of a project leader and a 60-day industry consultation period.

The agency is specifically seeking partners that can deliver and launch a functioning reactor ahead of China’s target of sending its first astronauts to the Moon by 2030.