Russia has unveiled plans to construct a power plant on the Moon within the next decade to support its lunar ambitions and a joint Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station. The initiative is targeted for completion by 2036 and is being advanced through a contract with the Lavochkin Association.
While Roscosmos has not explicitly confirmed the plant as nuclear, the involvement of Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute indicates it will likely rely on a nuclear-based system. The facility is expected to provide continuous power for rovers, a lunar observatory, and supporting infrastructure, signaling a shift from one-off missions to a sustained lunar presence.
Russia’s lunar program, once a pioneer during the Yuri Gagarin era, has encountered setbacks, including the Luna-25 mission failure in 2023. Officials emphasize that establishing this power plant is essential for maintaining competitiveness with the United States and China in the evolving global race for lunar exploration.
