Spearheading the development of a nuclear reactor for the Moon, the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom aims to build a small power plant capable of generating up to half a megawatt of energy, with China and India expressing keen interest in joining this groundbreaking lunar energy solution.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum, Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev said, “The new solution that we are asked to implement is the option of a lunar nuclear power plant with an energy capacity of up to half a megawatt.” “By the way, with the involvement of the international community, our Chinese and Indian partners are very interested in this. We are trying to lay the foundation for several international space projects,” he was quoted as saying by TASS.
Proposed lunar base
Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos, had previously announced in May that work on this nuclear power plant was underway, with plans to deploy it to the Moon by 2036. The reactor will provide essential power for a proposed lunar base, which Russia and China are jointly developing through the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project.
According to The EurAsian Times, India’s interest in the lunar nuclear power plant aligns with its own ambitions of establishing a lunar base by 2050. While India’s timeline is later than Russia’s and China’s ILRS plans, this possible collaboration could present an opportunity for India to accelerate its lunar exploration goals, the report said.
The construction of the lunar nuclear power plant will be a complex endeavor, with Russia revealing that it will likely be carried out autonomously without direct human involvement. The technological solutions for this project are reportedly near completion, signaling a significant leap forward in lunar exploration and energy production.
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is crucial for sustaining future lunar bases, as it provides a reliable and continuous energy source. Solar power, while popular, has limitations, particularly during the Moon’s long, 14-day lunar nights when it is unavailable. Nuclear energy can overcome these challenges, making it a vital component for both manned and unmanned missions aiming to establish a long-term presence on the Moon.
NASA has also been exploring the use of nuclear reactors to support long-term lunar settlements. The US Space Agency has stressed the advantages of nuclear power, stating, “While solar power systems have limitations on the Moon, a nuclear reactor could be placed in permanently shadowed areas (where there may be water or ice) or generate power continuously during lunar nights.”
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