Science & Tech · Space · 13 hrs ago
Roscosmos says rockets are ready for a future lunar nuclear power station
Roscosmos says rockets are ready to carry equipment for a future nuclear power station on the Moon, according to its chief, Dmitry Bakanov.
The station is intended to supply power to future lunar infrastructure, including plans linked to a Russian-Chinese lunar project.
The power unit itself is still under development, with Roscosmos working on it alongside Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
Publicly announced plans describe a compact unit, but the sources give differing figures for its power and operating life.
One account says the project has no settled design yet, so the rocket’s readiness does not mean the station is close to completion.
The planned delivery is around 2036, though Russia has also shifted several lunar mission dates to between 2032 and 2036.
Nuclear power could help lunar missions because the lunar night lasts about two weeks and some areas receive no sunlight, limiting the use of solar panels.
Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said rockets are ready to carry equipment for a future nuclear power station to the Moon.
He said the energy source itself is still being developed with Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute.
The Insider reported that the project has no concept yet and said its readiness is unclear.
The planned Russian-Chinese lunar energy project is expected to be delivered and operating around 2036.
- Who
- Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said the rockets are ready. Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute are working on the energy source.
- What
- Rockets are ready to transport equipment for a planned lunar nuclear power station.
- When
- Bakanov made the statement on October 21, 2026. The project is expected to be operating by 2036.
- Where
- The equipment is intended for the Moon.
- Why
- The station is intended to provide power for future lunar infrastructure and missions.
Roscosmos
The Insider
Readiness
Roscosmos
Bakanov said the rockets needed to carry the equipment are ready, while development of the energy source continues.
The Insider
The Insider said the project has no concept yet and that it is too early to describe its readiness.
Roscosmos first began discussing construction of the lunar energy unit.
Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov spoke publicly about the project.
Roscosmos said it had signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association to develop the power unit.
Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev gave technical details, including a planned output of up to 10 kW and a mass of no more than 1,200 kg.
Bakanov said the rockets for transporting the equipment were ready.
Roscosmos’s stated target is for the energy unit to be operating on the Moon.
- Rocket readiness
- Bakanov said the rockets are ready to carry the equipment to the Moon.
- Energy source
- Still being developed jointly by Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute.
- Planned output
- Up to 10 kW, according to technical details shared by Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev.
- Planned mass
- No more than 1,200 kg.
- Target year
- 2036, the expected year for the unit to be operating on the Moon.
3 sources
What people are saying
The launch vehicles are in place. The question is manufacturing the energy source itself – we are working on this together with Rosatom under the scientific leadership of Mikhail Valentinovich Kovalchuk and the Kurchatov Institute.