Archive · 25 Dec 2025
Russia Plans Nuclear Power Plant on Moon
Russia wants to build a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036.
This plant will help power their space missions and a research station they are building with China.
Russia used to be a leader in space, but now they are trying to catch up with the United States and China.
Building this power plant is part of their plan to become more important in space exploration again.
The United States also plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030.
Both countries are racing to explore the moon for energy and resources.
Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2036 to support its lunar space program and a joint Russian-Chinese research station.
Roscosmos, Russia's state space corporation, signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association aerospace company to build the plant.
The project involves Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute, Russia’s leading nuclear research institute.
Russia aims to regain its status as a leading power in space exploration, having fallen behind the United States and China in recent decades.
NASA also plans to put a nuclear reactor on the moon by the first quarter of fiscal year 2030, highlighting a broader rush by major powers to explore the moon for energy and resources.
- Who
- Russia
- What
- Plans to build a nuclear power plant on the moon
- When
- By 2036
- Where
- On the moon
- Why
- To support its lunar space program and a joint Russian-Chinese research station
- Country
- Russia
- Project
- Nuclear power plant on the moon
- Timeline
- By 2036
- Purpose
- Supply lunar space program and Russian-Chinese research station
- Context
- Competition with US and China in space exploration
- Key Players
- Roscosmos, Lavochkin Association, Rosatom, Kurchatov Institute
- NASA Plans
- Nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030
