Russia, China to build nuclear power on moon for proposed Lunar Research Station

Russia and China are considering building a nuclear power plant on the moon to supply energy for their proposed International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), according to recent reports.

Reuters revealed that a Chinese “senior official” confirmed the plan during a presentation in Shanghai on 23 April. The event brought together representatives from the 17 nations participating in the ILRS program.

This follows earlier reports from March 2024, in which Reuters stated that Roscosmos director general Yuri Borisov had outlined intentions to use nuclear energy to power the lunar facility.

China’s chief designer of the lunar exploration program, Wu Weiren, emphasized the importance of reliable energy for the base. He said, “an important question for the ILRS is power supply, and in this Russia has a natural advantage, when it comes to nuclear power plants, especially sending them into space, it leads the world, it is ahead of the United States.”

Wu was referring to the upcoming Chang’e 8 mission, scheduled for 2028, which aims to deliver a lander, rover, and robot to the moon. The mission will explore the moon’s geology and test techniques for resource utilization.

The Chang’e missions are a critical step in preparing for the eventual construction of the ILRS.