Russia and China Tipped to Outpace US in Lunar Nuclear Reactor Race

As of August 5, 2025, space exploration historian Alexander Zheleznyakov believes Russia and China are likely to outpace the United States in the race to establish a nuclear reactor on the Moon. Zheleznyakov told TASS news agency that Russia possesses substantial technological reserves for such projects, with Mikhail Kovalchuk of the Kurchatov Institute recently stating that a prototype lunar nuclear reactor could be developed by the early 2030s.

While the US has longstanding nuclear and space ambitions, and may revive previous work in this area, Zheleznyakov expressed skepticism that they would be able to surpass Russia and China's efforts. He noted that China tends to keep its advancements in space nuclear technology under wraps. Additionally, Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration signed an agreement in May 2025 to construct a lunar power station dedicated to fundamental space research, with the Russian nuclear reactor being a significant contribution to the International Lunar Research Station project, slated for completion by 2036.

Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov also declared in June 2025 that Russia's nuclear power plant would be the first on the Moon. Zheleznyakov emphasized that Russia's resources in this area are far more robust than those of the US, despite the latter's recent efforts to accelerate the development and deployment of a lunar nuclear reactor.