"Roscosmos", in collaboration with Chinese partners, plans to deliver and install a nuclear power plant on the surface of the Moon between 2033 and 2035, according to the Director General of the state corporation, Yuri Borisov. He announced this during the "Knowledge. First" marathon as part of the World Youth Festival in Sirius.
Borisov noted that the upcoming mission will be carried out automatically due to radiation safety concerns. The technological challenges required to create such a plant have already been practically solved. He also explained that nuclear energy is necessary to ensure the operation of the future station on the Moon, considering the length of the lunar day and the absence of sunlight for most of the time.
Aerospace expert Andrei Ionin noted that cooperation between Russia and China in the exploration of the Moon is an important step in the global space program. He emphasized that such projects demonstrate the peaceful intentions of countries and contribute to the development of space science. However, Ionin also clarified that it is possible that we are talking about radioisotope thermoelectric generators, which have already been used in space, which reduces the likelihood of using a full-fledged nuclear reactor.
