Russia and China are planning to build a nuclear power plant (NPP) on the Moon to power the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). This was announced by the mission’s chief engineer Pei Zhaoyu at a presentation in Shanghai, Reuters reports. In addition to the NPP, giant solar panels will provide power to the lunar base.
The publication’s article notes that China intends to lay the foundation for a habitable base at the South Pole of the Moon with the help of the Chang’e-8 mission, the launch of which is scheduled for 2028. At the first stage, a landing module, a lunar rover, and a robot will be sent to the Moon to study resources and terrain in order to determine a location for the station and the landing of cargo ships. At the second stage, a control center will be created, the delivery of large cargo will be organized, as well as orbital modules for power supply, communications, and transport. The fully controlled station is planned to be completed by 2036, noted Deputy Director General of Roscosmos Sergei Savelyev. The purpose of the base is to conduct scientific research to study and explore the Moon.
Russia and China signed the ILRS cooperation agreement in March 2021, and Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified it in June 2024. Former head of Roscosmos Yuri Borisov reported that Russian specialists are developing a nuclear power plant for the base, which is planned to be installed on the Moon in 2033-2035. According to him, Russia has already solved the key technological problems for this project.
In 2024, 12 countries joined the project, including Belarus, the UAE, Pakistan, Turkey and South Africa. China expects to attract 50 countries, 500 scientific institutes and about 5 thousand researchers from abroad to ILRS.
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