Nuclear Ambitions on the Lunar Surface: Russia and China Target 2036 for Moon Power Station

The Russian state space corporation, Roscosmos, has unveiled a strategic roadmap to establish a power station on the Moon by 2036. This ambitious project aims to supply energy to the joint Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station, powering rovers, observatories, and critical infrastructure. While the term "nuclear" was not explicitly used in the main announcement, the involvement of Russia’s nuclear giant Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute confirms that atomic energy is the chosen path for long-term lunar sustainability.

Following the setback of the Luna-25 crash in 2023 and the rising dominance of private firms like SpaceX, Moscow is positioning this project as a pivot toward permanent lunar exploration. The contract with the Lavochkin Association marks a shift from one-off missions to a sustained presence. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov also noted that these energy solutions are vital for future deep-space exploration, including missions to Venus, leveraging the Moon's strategic position in the Earth-Moon system.