Russia plans nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036 as space powers race to build permanent bases
Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036 to supply energy for its lunar program and a joint Russian-Chinese research station, accelerating a new phase of competition over the earth’s only natural satellite.
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Roscosmos, the state space corporation, said it has signed a contract with aerospace firm Lavochkin Association to develop the project, which would support rovers, a lunar observatory and the infrastructure for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) being pursued with China.
“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,” Roscosmos said in a statement.
The plan signals a return to big ambitions for a country that has long prided itself on space leadership. Ever since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit earth in 1961, Russia has seen itself as a pioneer. But it has slipped behind the United States and, increasingly, China in recent decades, with a stark setback in August 2023 when its unmanned Luna-25 lander crashed during a descent to the lunar surface.
Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said in June that one of the corporation’s aims is to install a nuclear power plant on the moon and to explore Venus, the planet often described as earth’s “sister.”
Energy as the foundation of a lunar foothold
Reliable power is central to any permanent presence on the moon. Russia’s planned plant is meant to deliver the steady energy needed to operate scientific instruments, power mobility systems and sustain an outpost through long lunar cycles. Roscosmos framed the project as the bridge from sporadic, short-duration missions to a continuous research effort on the surface.
The moon’s extreme environment—distance of about 384,400 kilometers from earth, harsh temperature swings and extended periods of darkness—raises the bar for power generation. Nuclear systems offer a compact, steady alternative to intermittent solar power and the heavy batteries or fuel needed to ride out long nights.
U.S. targets a reactor on the moon by 2030
Russia is not alone. NASA in August declared its intent to place a nuclear reactor on the moon by the first quarter of fiscal year 2030, underscoring how energy has become the pivot for the next phase of lunar exploration.
“We’re in a race to the moon, in a race with China to the moon. And to have a base on the moon, we need energy,” U.S. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said in August when asked about the plan, adding that the United States was currently behind. He said energy was essential to allow life to be sustained on the moon and, from there, to reach Mars.
Rules permit nuclear power in space—nuclear weapons are banned
International rules prohibit the placement of nuclear weapons in space. But current frameworks do not ban nuclear energy systems, provided they meet safety and regulatory requirements. Space nuclear power has precedent: several missions over decades have used radioisotope power sources to keep instruments running far from the sun. The step now envisioned by major powers is larger—grid-like power to run a surface base.
A Russian-Chinese blueprint for a shared station
Roscosmos said the plant would supply the envisioned International Lunar Research Station, a joint effort with China to develop a multi-phase complex that could host science and technology projects. The station’s architecture, as described by Russian officials, anticipates modules, mobility systems and instrument networks that require round-the-clock power—precisely the role a lunar nuclear plant would play.
Russia’s path back to the lunar surface remains challenging. The Luna-25 crash not only delayed scientific objectives but also highlighted the difficulty of precision landing and operations. Meanwhile, commercial disruption has reshaped launch economics and cadence, as Elon Musk’s rockets—long a Russian specialty—have driven down costs and increased flight frequency.
What’s at stake: science, strategy and resources
Beyond geopolitics, the moon is a scientific engine and potential resource hub. Some analysts foresee a lunar “gold rush” if technologies mature. NASA cites estimates of up to a million tonnes of helium-3, a helium isotope rare on earth, potentially available on the moon. Research published by Boeing has also pointed to the presence of rare earth metals used in smartphones, computers and advanced technologies, including scandium, yttrium and the 15 lanthanides.
For now, extracting and using lunar resources remains a long-term prospect requiring reliable power, heavy-lift logistics and sustained surface operations. But the potential benefits help explain why nations are laying groundwork today.
From one-off missions to permanent presence
Russia’s move to contract a lunar nuclear power plant by 2036 illustrates the shift from flags-and-footprints missions to infrastructure-led exploration. If the timeline holds, a power station would align with the broader ambitions of the ILRS and set up a platform for science, technology demonstrations and possible resource assessments.
Whether Moscow can execute on that schedule is an open question after recent setbacks. But in staking out a clear power plan—and in parallel with NASA’s own reactor target—the world’s major space powers are converging on the same conclusion: on the moon, the mission starts with energy.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
