The prospect of establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon has ignited a surge of innovative proposals for infrastructure development. Among these, the deployment of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) on the lunar surface has emerged as a compelling option for providing reliable and abundant power. SMRs, characterized by their smaller size, modular design, and potential for factory fabrication, offer unique advantages in the challenging lunar environment. However, alongside these benefits, significant challenges and potential drawbacks must be carefully considered. This essay will delve into the pros and cons of building SMRs on the Moon, examining the technical, logistical, and ethical implications of this ambitious undertaking.

The sun's energy comes from nuclear fusion, a process that requires immense heat and pressure to overcome the strong nuclear force and fuse atomic nuclei. Replicating these conditions on Earth is incredibly challenging. The confinement of plasma (superheated ionized gas) is a major hurdle, as is achieving sustained fusion reactions. Current fusion research is ongoing but has not yet achieved a commercially viable solution. An AI could analyze existing data, perhaps identify novel confinement methods through complex simulations, but it cannot physically build and test a fusion reactor without human assistance.