Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
In a significant move, Russia has commenced the development of a nuclear power plant to support its envisioned permanent lunar station, in collaboration with China.
Yuri Borisov, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, confirmed the initiative, highlighting the joint effort with China towards establishing a sustainable presence on the Moon.
The development follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in March 2021, outlining a series of missions aimed at establishing a robotic lunar base.
Borisov indicated a projected timeline of 2033 to 2035 for delivering and installing the power reactor on the Moon, stressing the importance of advanced technological solutions for the automated mission.
China's involvement includes missions such as Chang'e 6, Chang'e 7, and Chang'e 8, with the first launch scheduled for 2026 and project completion anticipated by 2028.
Deploying a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface is seen as crucial for facilitating future settlements and addressing challenges like reactor cooling, which are actively being addressed.
The pursuit of nuclear power aligns with Russia's strategy of leveraging its nuclear technology prowess for space exploration, evident in plans for a nuclear-powered cargo spaceship.
Despite a projected completion timeline extending to 2035, Russia's commitment to space exploration remains steadfast, reflecting its determination to maintain a leading position in the global space arena.