China and Russia Collaborate on Lunar Power Plant

China and Russia have recently entered into a memorandum of understanding to construct an automated nuclear power plant on the moon, with a goal set for completion by 2035. This agreement was made between the Russian space agency Roscosmos and China’s National Space Agency (CNSA).

The planned facility, part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), is expected to support basic space research and develop technologies necessary for sustainable, long-term human presence on the moon, as stated by Roscosmos. The announcement followed the document’s signing earlier this month.

Originally announced in 2017, the ILRS has attracted participation from several nations, including Venezuela, Belarus, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Egypt, Nicaragua, Thailand, Serbia, Pakistan, Senegal, and Kazakhstan.

Located within 100 kilometers of the moon’s south pole, the ILRS is designed for long-term autonomous operations, supplemented by occasional human missions. Roscosmos emphasized that this station aims to facilitate essential space research and operational techniques for ensuring a lasting presence on the moon.

Interestingly, last year, Yuri Borisov, head of Roscosmos, noted that beyond the reactors spearheaded by China and Russia, there are also developments underway for nuclear-powered cargo spacecraft. He mentioned that most technical challenges have been addressed, except for finding an effective cooling solution for the reactor.

Borisov elaborated on the potential of “space tugs,” which could employ nuclear reactors and high-power turbines to transport large cargo between orbits, and even manage space debris among other tasks.

This announcement comes in light of NASA’s recent budget proposal for 2026, which centers on the Gateway project and plans for orbital moon bases aimed for launch in 2027.