Russia Mulls Moon Nuclear Plant Collaboration With China

The head of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, has announced that Russia and China are contemplating the installation of a nuclear power plant on the moon between 2033 and 2035.

Borisov, a former deputy defense minister, highlighted their collaborative efforts in lunar exploration, suggesting that Russia’s expertise in ‘nuclear space energy‘ could facilitate future lunar settlements.

“Today we are seriously considering a project – somewhere at the turn of 2033-2035 – to deliver and install a power unit on the lunar surface together with our Chinese colleagues,” Borisov said.

Solar panels would not be able to provide enough electricity to power future lunar settlements, he said, while nuclear power could.

“This is a very serious challenge…it should be done in automatic mode, without the presence of humans,” he said of the possible plan.

Borisov also mentioned Russian intentions to construct a nuclear-powered cargo spacecraft. He indicated that all technical aspects of the project had been addressed, except for devising a method to adequately cool the nuclear reactor.

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“We are indeed working on a space tugboat. This huge, cyclopean structure that would be able, thanks to a nuclear reactor and a high-power turbines…to transport large cargoes from one orbit to another, collect space debris and engage in many other applications,” Borisov said.

Previously, Russian authorities discussed ambitious aspirations for lunar mining. However, setbacks have plagued the Russian space program in recent years.

Their initial moon mission in 47 years ended in failure last year when Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft lost control and crashed.

Despite this setback, Moscow has expressed intentions to conduct additional lunar missions, followed by potential collaborations with China for a crewed mission and establishment of a lunar base.

China has also announced plans to land its first astronaut on the moon before 2030.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month dismissed a warning by the United States that Moscow planned to put nuclear weapons in space as false, saying it was a ploy to draw Russia into arms negotiations on the West’s terms.