Which liability regime for lunar reactors? Examining the next frontier of international nuclear law

Nuclear reactors operated on the Moon (lunar reactors) are no longer a utopia. The USA, China and the Russian Federation are currently planning to deploy these advanced nuclear technologies. Lunar reactors are intended to power space mining and, later, human settlements. Lunar reactors are also envisaged as the first fleet of space reactors, with the next on Mars. As on Earth, any deployment of nuclear energy on the Moon must be accompanied by a transparent and robust legal framework. This article examines which legal framework applies when damage is caused by the radioactive or hazardous nature of nuclear materials used for power production in a lunar reactor.