- The head of Russia’s space agency has said Moscow and Beijing are “seriously considering” putting a nuclear power plant on the moon
The head of Russia’s space agency has said Moscow and Beijing are “seriously considering” putting a nuclear power plant on the moon.
This could take place between 2033 to 2035, Yuri Borisov said.
Russia and China have been jointly working together on a lunar programme and hope the project will one day allow lunar settlements to be built.
“Today we are seriously considering a project – somewhere at the turn of 2033-2035 – to deliver and install a power unit on the lunar surface together with our Chinese colleagues,” Mr Borisov said.
He explained solar panels would not be able to provide enough electricity to power future lunar settlements, while nuclear power could.
“This is a very serious challenge… it should be done in automatic mode, without the presence of humans,” he said of the possible plan.
Mr Borisov also discussed Russian plans to build a nuclear-powered cargo spaceship.
He said all the technical questions concerning the project had been solved apart from finding a solution on how to cool the nuclear reactor.
“We are indeed working on a space tugboat. This huge, cyclopean structure that would be able, thanks to a nuclear reactor and a high-power turbines… to transport large cargoes from one orbit to another, collect space debris and engage in many other applications,” Mr Borisov said.
Russia’s first moon mission in 47 years failed last year after the Luna-25 spacecraft spun out of control and crashed.
Meanwhile China last month said it aimed to put the first Chinese astronaut on the moon before 2030.
@Sky News