Russia has unveiled ambitious plans to construct a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2036, aiming to supply energy for its expanding lunar space programme and the proposed Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station.

Russia’s state space corporation Roscosmos confirmed that it has signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association, an aerospace company, to develop the lunar power facility. While Roscosmos did not explicitly label the project as nuclear, the involvement of Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute, Russia’s leading nuclear research body, strongly suggests a nuclear-based energy system.

The proposed power plant will provide electricity for lunar rovers, scientific observatories, and long-term infrastructure, enabling continuous research operations on the Moon. Roscosmos described the project as a critical step toward establishing a permanently functioning lunar station and transitioning from short-term missions to sustained lunar exploration.

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Russia, once a dominant force in space exploration following Yuri Gagarin’s historic spaceflight in 1961, has faced setbacks in recent years. Its ambitions suffered a major blow in August 2023, when the Luna-25 mission crashed during a lunar landing attempt.

Despite increased competition from the United States and China, and private-sector advances led by companies such as SpaceX, Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov reiterated that deploying a nuclear power source on the Moon remains a top priority, alongside future missions to Venus.

The Moon, located approximately 384,400 kilometres from Earth, plays a crucial role in stabilising Earth’s climate and generating ocean tides, making it a strategic target for long-term scientific exploration.