Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos, revealed that Russia plans to construct a nuclear power plant on the Moon, starting between 2033 and 2035.
The president of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos has stated that the country is contemplating the establishment of a nuclear power station on the moon, with a projected start date of 2033 to 2035.
China and Russia have been collaborating on a lunar program for nuclear space energy, and within the next ten or so years, they want to explore the possibility of establishing a nuclear power station there.
“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,” Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos said on Tuesday.
A recent study published in the Planetary Science Journal suggests that “moonquakes” may have an effect in the vicinity of the lunar south pole, causing our Moon to shrink, which could be a problem.
Solar panels would not produce enough electricity, in Borisov’s opinion, to power future lunar communities. Conversely, nuclear power would be adequate.
The majority of Russia’s plans to construct a nuclear-powered cargo spaceship had already been drawn out; the only unresolved issue with the project was how to cool the nuclear reactor.
According to Borisov, the cargo spaceship would be able to move heavy loads between orbits.
Before pursuing the concept of a Russian/Chinese crewed mission or lunar base, Moscow will need to launch more lunar missions.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, took a stand in February against the United States, which claimed that Moscow was preparing to launch nuclear weapons into space.
When Russia’s Luna-25 mission crashed on the lunar surface nine days after launch last year, it was dealt a serious blow. Analysts at the time criticized Russia’s space capabilities, claiming that they were just one more sign of the Russian space program’s decline in recent years.
Luna 25 would have been the first Russian lunar probe since 1976 and the first after the fall of the Soviet Union.