Yuri Borisov, the chairman of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, said on Tuesday that the country and China are thinking of building a nuclear power station on the moon between 2033 and 2035. According to Borisov, this might eventually lead to the construction of lunar communities.
Former deputy minister of defense Borisov said that Moscow might provide its experience in "nuclear space energy" to China, with whom it had been collaborating on a lunar mission.
"Today, in conjunction with our Chinese colleagues, we are seriously contemplating a project to transport and install a power unit on the lunar surface somewhere around the turn of 2033–2035,” Borisov said.
He said that nuclear power may power future lunar communities, but solar panels would not be able to provide enough energy. This is a very difficult task. Regarding the potential strategy, he said that it should be carried out automatically and without human intervention.
Borisov said that Russia was planning to construct a cargo spacecraft that would run on nuclear power. The only unresolved technical issue pertaining to the project, he said, was how to cool the nuclear reactor.
"Yes, we are developing a tugboat in space. This enormous, cyclopean edifice would be possible because of a nuclear reactor and powerful turbines. could move heavy loads between orbits, gather space trash, and carry out several other tasks, according to Borisov.
Although there have been previous talks by Russian authorities of grand intentions to mining on the moon, the Russian space program has faced many obstacles recently.
After Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed last year, it attempted its first lunar trip in 47 years but failed.
Moscow has said that it would carry out further lunar missions before looking at the prospect of a crewed joint Russian-Chinese mission and maybe even a lunar outpost. Prior to 2030, China said last month that it wanted to send its first astronaut to the moon.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected as untrue an American warning that his country intended to launch nuclear weapons into space, claiming it was a ruse to force Russia to enter arms talks on the conditions set out by the West.
Former deputy minister of defense Borisov said that Moscow might provide its experience in "nuclear space energy" to China, with whom it had been collaborating on a lunar mission.
"Today, in conjunction with our Chinese colleagues, we are seriously contemplating a project to transport and install a power unit on the lunar surface somewhere around the turn of 2033–2035,” Borisov said.
He said that nuclear power may power future lunar communities, but solar panels would not be able to provide enough energy. This is a very difficult task. Regarding the potential strategy, he said that it should be carried out automatically and without human intervention.
Borisov said that Russia was planning to construct a cargo spacecraft that would run on nuclear power. The only unresolved technical issue pertaining to the project, he said, was how to cool the nuclear reactor.
"Yes, we are developing a tugboat in space. This enormous, cyclopean edifice would be possible because of a nuclear reactor and powerful turbines. could move heavy loads between orbits, gather space trash, and carry out several other tasks, according to Borisov.
Although there have been previous talks by Russian authorities of grand intentions to mining on the moon, the Russian space program has faced many obstacles recently.
After Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed last year, it attempted its first lunar trip in 47 years but failed.
Moscow has said that it would carry out further lunar missions before looking at the prospect of a crewed joint Russian-Chinese mission and maybe even a lunar outpost. Prior to 2030, China said last month that it wanted to send its first astronaut to the moon.
Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected as untrue an American warning that his country intended to launch nuclear weapons into space, claiming it was a ruse to force Russia to enter arms talks on the conditions set out by the West.
