Russia plans to build a power plant on the moon within the next decade to support its lunar exploration program and a joint research station with China, according to the country’s state space agency. The announcement was made by Roscosmos and first reported by Reuters.
The facility is intended to provide energy for long-term lunar operations as major powers accelerate efforts to establish a sustained presence on the moon. Reuters reached out to Roscosmos for additional comment beyond its public statement.
Why It Matters
The move underscores an intensifying global competition over lunar exploration, infrastructure, and future resource access, as the moon becomes a strategic focus for both scientific research and geopolitical influence.
Reliable energy generation is widely viewed as a prerequisite for permanent lunar bases, placing nuclear power at the center of future space exploration plans by Russia, the United States, and China.
What To Know
Roscosmos said it plans to complete construction of a lunar power plant by 2036 and has signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association, a Russian aerospace manufacturer, to carry out the project.
The agency did not explicitly describe the facility as nuclear, but said project participants include Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, and the Kurchatov Institute, the country’s leading nuclear research center.
According to Roscosmos, the power plant would support rovers, a lunar observatory, and infrastructure for the joint Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station, which is designed as a long-term scientific base.
The announcement follows setbacks for Russia’s lunar ambitions, including the failure of its Luna-25 mission in 2023, when the spacecraft crashed during a landing attempt.
Explicit caveat: Roscosmos has not released technical specifications, timelines for reactor deployment, or safety details for the proposed power plant. The announcement does not establish funding commitments, launch schedules, or regulatory approvals for nuclear energy systems on the lunar surface.
What People Are Saying
Roscosmos said the project is “an important step towards the creation of a permanently functioning scientific lunar station and the transition from one-time missions to a long-term lunar exploration programme.”
Dmitry Bakanov, head of Roscosmos, said in June that deploying a power plant on the moon is among the agency’s strategic goals, alongside renewed exploration of Venus, often described as Earth’s “sister planet.”
U.S. officials have acknowledged similar ambitions. In August, NASA said it aims to place a nuclear reactor on the moon by early fiscal year 2030 to support sustained human presence.
What Happens Next
Roscosmos is expected to continue contract work and early design phases for the lunar power facility as part of its broader moon program.
International competition is likely to intensify as the United States, China, and Russia advance parallel plans for lunar infrastructure, with future missions and funding decisions expected to shape timelines over the next several years.
