Yuri Borisov, President of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), announced that Russia and China plan to send and install a nuclear power unit on the Moon between 2033 and 2035.
This project, in which the two countries will cooperate, could be a critical step for space exploration and a permanent human presence in space.
Nuclear power on the Moon: Russia and China’s 2035 goal
Borisov stated that solar panels will not be able to provide enough energy during the long and dark nights on the Moon and that nuclear energy can solve this problem. Nuclear energy will be able to provide uninterrupted power to settlements and research facilities on the Moon.
Emphasizing that he is aware of the project’s technical difficulties, Borisov said that special solutions will be developed for remote control of the nuclear power plant and radiation protection.
Roscosmos is also planning to build a nuclear-powered cargo spaceship to carry large amounts of cargo to the Moon and other planets.
In addition, nuclear energy could facilitate mining activities on the Moon. Valuable minerals and elements on the Moon could be transported to Earth and used in various fields.
Despite some setbacks in the past, Roscosmos remains committed to exploring and colonizing the Moon. More lunar missions are planned for the future, including a joint Russian-Chinese crewed mission and even establishing a lunar base.
China also supports a plan to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon and aims to send the first Chinese astronaut to the Moon before 2030.
Roscosmos also emphasized that the nuclear power plant on the Moon will be used for peaceful purposes and that there are no plans for any nuclear armament.
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