MOSCOW: China and Russia are “seriously” considering a project to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon in the next decade, the official media in Moscow reported quoting the head of the Russian space corporation as saying.
Speaking at the World Youth Festival held at the Sirius federal territory, Yury Borisov, the CEO of Roscosmos, Russia’s State Space Corporation mentioned that the proposed mission to the Moon would require automation, with technological solutions nearing readiness for implementation.
Borisov’s comments come after Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) signed a memorandum of mutual understanding in March 2021 for cooperation in creating the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). As part of this collaboration, China plans to launch three missions—Chang’e 6, Chang’e 7, and Chang’e 8—to test key technologies and lay the groundwork for a robotic base on the Moon, capable of remote operation for experiments and research.
The first of these lunar missions, Chang’e 6, is scheduled for 2026, with the entire project expected to be completed by 2028, according to TASS news agency.
The joint endeavor to install a nuclear reactor on the Moon represents a significant step forward in space exploration and could pave the way for future scientific research and potential lunar habitation.
