This time, Russia-China is building a nuclear power plant on the moon
Last Updated on September 15, 2024 10:35 am
Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom is leading an ambitious project to put a small nuclear reactor on the moon. The reactor will be capable of generating up to half a megawatt of electricity, which will provide reliable power for future lunar landings.
In a report, the Russian news agency TASS said that Russia and China are jointly building this nuclear power plant.
“We have been asked for a new solution, which is to put a half-megawatt nuclear power plant on the moon,” said Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev. Our Chinese and Indian partners are very interested in this.
The main objective of this project is to ensure permanent power supply for future permanent bases on the Moon. Nuclear power is much more efficient than solar power. Because the solar panels become useless during the long 14-day lunar night. A sustainable power supply is crucial to sustaining long-term human presence and scientific research.
In March 2021, Russia’s Roscosmos and China’s CNSA signed a memorandum of understanding for joint cooperation in building the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). As part of this, China will operate three missions — Chang’e 6, Chang’e 7 and Chang’e 8. It will start by 2026 and the necessary technology testing for the robotic base will be completed by 2028.
Source: Times of India