The Race to Power a Lunar Settlement: Russia and China's Ambitious Nuclear Plan

Thursday - March 14 2024, 22:48 UTC - 8 months ago

Russia and China are collaborating on a nuclear power plant to support their joint lunar exploration program. Due to the moon's long nights, solar power is not a viable option for permanent installations. NASA is also exploring the use of nuclear energy for their moon missions, with a target of launching a functional nuclear reactor by the early 2030s.

Lunar exploration has once again become a topic of interest, with various nations and private entities vying to launch missions and establish a presence on the moon. However, one major hurdle facing these ambitious plans is the issue of energy supply. Unlike Earth, the moon does not have a steady source of solar energy due to its 14-day long nights. This means traditional solar power is not a feasible option for powering permanent installations and settlements on the lunar surface.

In light of this challenge, Russia and China have announced their intentions to work together in developing a nuclear power plant that could provide a reliable energy source for their joint lunar exploration program. According to Yuri Borisov, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, they are currently considering a project to deliver and install a power unit on the moon's surface by the mid-2030s in collaboration with their Chinese colleagues.

Borisov also revealed that Russia is working on a nuclear-powered spaceship, designed to ferry cargo in orbit. The powerful turbines and nuclear reactor would enable the spaceship to transport large cargoes between different orbits, collect space debris, and perform other tasks. However, Russia's space industry currently faces significant issues, exemplified by the failure of its Luna-25 mission last year. It remains to be seen whether these ambitious plans will come to fruition.

Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about Russia's involvement in the International Lunar Research Station - a joint project to establish a human presence on the moon's south pole. In a recent presentation on the project by Chinese space scientists, there was no mention of Russia's missions, leading to doubts about their participation.

But Russia and China are not the only players looking into nuclear energy as a power source for their lunar endeavors. In 2022, NASA awarded contracts to three companies to investigate the feasibility of a small nuclear reactor for their moon missions. This year, they announced an extension of the contracts, with a target of having a functional nuclear reactor ready for launch by the early 2030s.

In a statement, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, "The lunar night is challenging from a technical perspective, so having a source of power such as this nuclear reactor, which operates independent of the sun, is an enabling option for long-term exploration and science efforts." .

As the race for lunar exploration intensifies, the importance of a reliable energy source becomes increasingly apparent. Whether it is through solar, nuclear, or other forms of energy, the development of new technologies will play a crucial role in the establishment of a permanent human presence on the moon.