China and Russia plan to build an automated nuclear power station on the moon by 2035. A memorandum of cooperation for the task was signed between Russia’s space company, Roscosmos, and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) this week.
The power station will be a part of the proposed ILRS lunar base and could offer energy to enable long-term lunar exploration and scientific studies.
ILRS is seen as a rival to the United States-led Artemis program, which plans to construct an orbital lunar area station known as “Gateway” from 2027.
Artemis involves NASA and the space agencies of 55 different international locations, which includes European Space Corporation member states.
According to a 2024 conversation with Yury Borisov, the CEO of the Russian company Roscosmos, featured on the state-run news outlet TASS, the development of the Chinese Russian reactor is expected to occur independently “without human involvement.” While details of how this can be completed remain unclear, Borisov introduced that the technological steps are “almost ready.”
The ILRS may be a permanent base located at the Moon’s south pole and will consist of a command center, communication structures, and advanced research facilities. It’ll be larger than Disneyland, covering an area with a 3.7-mile radius. China’s Chang’e-8 project in 2028 will lay the groundwork, followed by using multiple rocket launches by 2035 to deliver building materials.
Meanwhile, the United States’ plans for its own lunar base face setbacks. A latest budget idea by the Trump administration could reduce NASA’s Lunar Gateway project, casting doubt on its future role in lunar exploration. Experts accept as true that this can provide China and Russia a part in claiming strategic space on the Moon.
Former NASA administrator Bill Nelson previously warned of the risks of China establishing dominance on the Moon. He expressed the problem that China should restrict access to certain regions under the guise of medical research, which would violate the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
Despite those concerns, China has opened the ILRS task to 17 nations, including Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, and Venezuela. Beijing continues that the task’s reason is scientific exploration and lunar sample series, aiming to foster global cooperation in deep space exploration.
Read more: Pakistan-developed rover to fly on China’s Chang’e-8 moon south pole mission
With a 2035 completion date, the agreement between Russia and China marks a significant step in the two nations’ shared lunar ambitions.
- Strategic Partnership and Purpose:
The agreement, signed by Russia’s space agency Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA), envisions the nuclear power station on moon as a means to support fundamental space research. The reactor will power a permanent base designed to conduct long-duration unmanned operations, test critical technologies, and prepare for eventual human missions. This approach underlines both nations’ commitment to robust, independent space capabilities.
- Location and Integration:
The facility will be integrated within the ILRS program and is expected to be located within 100 kilometers of the Moon’s south pole, a region that holds significant scientific and resource potential. This strategic placement is designed to leverage the Moon’s unique environment while enhancing the base’s long-term operational sustainability.
- Technical and Operational Challenges:
While many technical hurdles have reportedly been addressed, thermal management for the nuclear reactor remains a critical area of concern. Both space agencies are actively working on solutions to ensure that the reactor operates efficiently amid the Moon’s extreme temperature ranges. Moreover, the plan calls for a high degree of automation building the structure without direct human intervention, which could pave the way for future off-world construction techniques.
- Geopolitical and Strategic Implications:
This ambitious project is also seen in the context of broader geopolitical dynamics. It stands as a counterpoint to the US-led Artemis Program, which includes plans for an orbital lunar station, known as Gateway. This cooperative enterprise might change the balance of power in space exploration as China and Russia unite their lunar goals under the ILRS banner, with participation from a number of additional nations, including Pakistan, Venezuela, Belarus, and more.
If successful, the lunar nuclear power station could mark a major leap in space infrastructure, providing a reliable, continuous energy source that underpins further scientific research and exploration initiatives. The project’s success might also demonstrate how autonomous construction and power generation can be achieved in extra-terrestrial environments a stepping stone toward broader space colonization strategies. Meanwhile, the move could intensify the ongoing space rivalry between the US and the combined China-Russia front, potentially influencing future resource allocation and policy decisions in space.