Russian scientists presented a concept for lunar rovers that will be used in the construction of a lunar station. According to Mikhail Malenkov, vice president of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after K. E. Tsiolkovsky, the vehicles will be able to move across flat terrain at speeds of up to 5 km/h, and when transporting heavy modules weighing up to 18 tons, they will be limited to 400 m/h.
On steep slopes, the speed will decrease to 1 km/h, while the lunar rovers will be able to independently choose the optimal trajectory and angle of inclination for the safe transport of cargo. Special attention is being paid to routes to the Malapert Massif, where the station will be able to remain under sunlight for up to 91% of the time, which will ensure efficient operation of the equipment and an uninterrupted power supply.
The concept is at the preliminary design stage. Scientists are developing materials for the future project specification, while the actual creation and testing of the vehicles still lie ahead. In May 2025, Roskosmos and the China National Space Administration signed a memorandum on the construction of a power plant for the International Lunar Research Station, where the lunar rovers will be used to prepare and maintain infrastructure, as well as for research and testing technologies for long-term unmanned operation with the prospect of human presence.