Russia plans nuclear power plant on Moon by 2036
What's the story
In a major development, Russia has announced plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2036. The ambitious project, spearheaded by the country's state space corporation Roscosmos, is aimed at supporting long-term lunar operations and powering its lunar program. The move comes after recent failures in Russia's space program, including the crash of its unmanned Luna-25 mission in August 2023.
Strategic alliance
Roscosmos partners with Lavochkin Association for lunar power plant
Roscosmos has signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association aerospace company to build the lunar power plant. The facility will be used to power Russia's lunar program, which includes rovers, an observatory, and infrastructure for a joint Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station. This project is seen as a major step toward establishing a permanent scientific station on the Moon and shifting from one-time missions to long-term exploration programs.
Power source
Nuclear power plant's role in lunar exploration
While Roscosmos has not explicitly confirmed that the plant will be nuclear, it has revealed that the project involves Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Kurchatov Institute, Russia's top nuclear research institute. Dmitry Bakanov, head of Roscosmos, had said in June that one of their goals was to put a nuclear power plant on the Moon. This would enable more complex missions and long-term stays on the lunar surface.