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Russia plans Moon power plant in 3 rocket launches
8 Apr
Summary
- A lunar nuclear power station will be delivered in three stages.
- Each stage requires a separate rocket launch for deployment.
- The project is a collaboration between Roscosmos and CNSA.
Russia's NPO Lavochkin plans to deploy a nuclear power station on the Moon in three distinct phases. Each phase will necessitate a separate rocket launch for the delivery of components and equipment.
The initial launch will carry a lunar service rover and specialized gear via an Angara-A5M rocket. Following this, a second launch will transport the primary lunar service rover and a charging and distribution station.
The third and final launch will deliver the nuclear power plant. Once on the lunar surface, the rover will connect the power plant to the station, enabling operations and the integration of other landed systems.
This initiative aligns with a memorandum signed in May 2025 between Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) for a lunar research station. Scientists from Rosatom have proposed building low-power, long-endurance nuclear power plants for autonomous operation on the Moon.
The Russian Space Week, celebrating the 65th anniversary of Yury Gagarin's flight, is currently underway from April 6 to April 12, 2026. This annual event was established by presidential decree in late 2025, with Roscosmos as the organizer.
