Nuclear power on the moon is critical to the United States' space exploration and national security goals, and the U.S. government should "move quickly" to build reactors there before its terrestrial rivals, according to a directive issued by Transportation Secretary and acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, which was obtained by ABC News.

Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has directed the agency to fast-track plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon.

Transportation Secretary and interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy outlined the space agency’s fast-track plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon on Tuesday. “We’re in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon.