Russia and China Forge Ahead with Lunar Base Plans, Including Nuclear Power Plant Construction

by Pooja Chauhan · 08/05/2024

Russia has announced the commencement of construction for a nuclear power plant to be deployed on the moon as part of its collaborative lunar base project with China. The joint effort aims to establish the International Lunar Research Station, a vast complex set to commence construction in 2026.

The proposed lunar base, with an expansive radius of nearly four miles, surpassing the size of any Disney theme park, will accommodate scientists studying the moon’s characteristics.

According to RIA, Moscow intends to deliver and install the plant between 2033 and 2035, as confirmed by Yuri Borisov, the head of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos. Borisov previously indicated Moscow’s consideration of utilizing nuclear energy to power the station due to the lengthy lunar nights lasting around 14 Earth days, rendering surface solar panels less feasible as a power source.

Borisov outlined plans for two Russian rockets to attempt reaching both the moon’s north and south poles in 2028. The International Scientific Lunar Station’s development is projected to occur in two phases between 2025 and 2035, comprising several modules.

In a separate development, Russia and China have engaged in discussions concerning “outer space security” and “AI weapons.” China, in collaboration with Russia, confirmed plans to construct the lunar base to rival NASA’s envisioned Lunar Gateway project.

The news of Russia’s initiation of the nuclear power plant’s construction marks the latest advancement in the joint Moscow-Beijing endeavor, reviving a space race against the West after half a century. As Russia and China progress with their moon base plans, NASA is planning to send the first woman to Mars in the mid-2020s, highlighting a renewed era of space exploration and competition for valuable resources and technological advancements.