Russia Plans to Build Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon by 2035, Says Rosatom Chief
Rosatom chief Alexey Likhachev says Russia is developing a lunar nuclear power unit in collaboration with the Kurchatov Institute to support future extraterrestrial operations.
MOSCOW, Oct. 16: Russia aims to establish a nuclear power plant on the Moon by the mid-2030s as part of its efforts to develop energy infrastructure for future lunar missions, Rosatom chief executive Alexey Likhachev said on Friday.
Speaking to international experts in Moscow, Likhachev said the country plans to develop a nuclear power unit capable of supporting an extraterrestrial station on the lunar surface.
“By the middle of the next decade, we should create a nuclear power unit on the Moon to organize such an extraterrestrial station,” he said.
The project is being pursued jointly by Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation, and the Kurchatov Institute, a leading national research centre.
The proposed facility is intended to provide a reliable energy source for future lunar infrastructure. Nuclear power could offer an alternative to solar energy in an environment where long lunar nights and challenging surface conditions can complicate continuous electricity generation.
Developing a power system on the Moon would require overcoming substantial engineering challenges, including the safe transportation of equipment, operation in extreme temperatures, radiation protection and the establishment of reliable systems with limited human intervention.
Russia’s plan reflects the growing international interest in developing infrastructure beyond Earth as countries explore opportunities for sustained lunar operations.
However, the proposed 2035 timeline remains a target, and the project’s eventual implementation will depend on technological development, testing, funding and the progress of Russia’s broader lunar exploration programme.
