OKLO, NNE, LEU, SMR Stocks Surge As Space Nuclear Mandate Sparks Investor Buzz

• The initiative is also advancing NASA-led missions such as Space Reactor-1 “Freedom” and Lunar Reactor-1 for sustained lunar operations.
• The framework targets mid-power reactors producing at least 20 kilowatts of electricity, designed for multi-year operation in space and on the Moon.
• Oklo is developing fast-fission power plants to deliver scalable, affordable, clean energy.

Nuclear stocks, including Oklo Inc. (OKLO), Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NNE), Centrus Energy Corp. (LEU), and NuScale Power Corp. (SMR), rose between 4% and 10% on  Thursday, as a new wave of investor enthusiasm swept through advanced nuclear names after Washington unveiled a sweeping space energy strategy.  

On April 14, 2026, the White House issued National Science and Technology Memorandum 3, outlining a federally backed push to deploy nuclear reactors beyond Earth, including orbital systems by 2028 and lunar surface units by 2030.

White House Directive Accelerates Space Reactor Plans

The initiative also greenlights NASA’s Space Reactor-1 “Freedom” mission and Lunar Reactor-1 for sustained Moon operations. 

The policy framework effectively reframes nuclear energy as critical infrastructure for space dominance, with a focus on sustained lunar operations and deep-space propulsion systems.

The memorandum establishes parallel development tracks led by NASA and the Department of Defense (DOD), aiming to bring mid-power nuclear systems into orbit and onto the lunar surface within the next decade. 

The framework calls for mid-power reactors capable of producing at least 20 kilowatts of electric power, designed to operate for multiple years in space and on the Moon. It also encourages scalable designs that could extend to 100 kilowatts or more for future missions.

Oklo Leadership’s Federal Advisory Role And NNE’s DOE Funding

Oklo is developing fast-fission power plants to provide scalable, low-cost, clean energy while building a domestic supply chain for critical isotopes and advancing nuclear fuel recycling to convert used fuel into electricity.

In March, the company announced that its CEO and co-founder, Jacob DeWitte, has been appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

Oklo stock traded over 8% higher in Thursday’s premarket. On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around the stock changed to ‘extremely bullish’ from ‘bullish’ territory the previous day. Message volume tuned to ‘extremely high’ from ‘high’ levels in 24 hours. 

Nano Nuclear Energy’s portable reactor concepts are aimed at extreme environments. In April, the company received a U.S. Department of Energy GAIN voucher to support development of its KRONOS MMR microreactor, focusing on reactor design analysis for uncertainty and sensitivity modeling.

The policy shift has rapidly repositioned small modular reactor developers from terrestrial energy contenders to strategic space infrastructure players.

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