NASA signs space nuclear agreement and plans Moon base launch in December

NASA and the Energy Department agreed to work together on nuclear power and propulsion for space missions.

NASA says the first element of its planned Moon Base will launch in December, ahead of an earlier 2030 goal.

The agreement sets out how the agencies will work on research, testing and deployment, but includes no new funding figures.

Nuclear power could help support a base on the Moon and future missions to Mars.