Roscosmos and China are considering putting a nuclear reactor on the Moon, according to the Russian space agency.
Moscow's Tass news agency he says that the mission will be automated and take place from 2033 to 2035.
The head of Roscosmos, Yury Borisov, claimed that the technology needed for the mission was almost ready and stated at the World Youth Festival (held in Russia):
"Today, we are seriously considering a project on the Moon to put a power reactor there together with our Chinese partners."
NASA has also awarded contracts designing facilities for nuclear power on the Moon.
Russia, of course, was not so lucky with its missions to the Moon. In 2023, the Luna 25 lander became a decal on the surface of the Moon after an errant orbit. The prestige of Roscosmos engineers was further dented when India's Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully landed a few days later.
While Roscosmos discusses its plans for a nuclear reactor on the Moon, China continues to make progress with reusable rockets. In an interview that published by China News, Wang Wei of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation reported that the 4- and 5-meter-class reusable rockets are scheduled to fly for the first time in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
SpaceX has proven the effectiveness of reusable rockets, and its rivals have been trying to catch up ever since.
So one question is whether China really needs or wants Russian involvement in its lunar program.
The two countries signed plans for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS from International Lunar Research Station) in 2021, but the Luna 25 incident will likely have given Russia's partners food for thought.
