Russia has started creating a nuclear power unit for the Moon. A prototype of the system, called "Selena", will be ready by 2032. This was announced by the president of the Kurchatov Institute, Mikhail Kovalchuk, at a scientific conference at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The "Selena" power module is being developed using direct energy conversion technology. This allows thermal energy from the reactor to be converted into electricity without intermediate mechanical stages, which increases the reliability of the system in space and at extreme temperatures.
The minimum required power of the unit is 5 kilowatts, and its service life is estimated at 10 years. These characteristics are sufficient to power scientific equipment, communication systems, and life support for future automatic or manned lunar bases.
According to Mikhail Kovalchuk, work is currently underway on a prototype of the lunar station. By 2032, specialists plan to assemble and test the main sample of the power module. Earlier, the head of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, noted that the transportation of components for the lunar nuclear power plant to orbit will begin in the 2030s. "Selena" is considered one of the key elements for the energy supply of the International Lunar Station and other promising facilities.