China and Russia are planning to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon to power the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), with a target date of 2035. This ambitious project forms part of China’s broader space aspirations, including landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and establishing a permanent base by 2035. The nuclear power unit, to be built with Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, aims to provide energy for the ILRS, and could be supplemented by large-scale solar arrays and surface heating systems. This cooperation between China and Russia, strengthened by tensions with the West, highlights the growing geopolitical dynamics in space exploration. As the two nations plan to compete with NASA's Artemis program, the ILRS could become a crucial space station for global scientific research.
Author: Saikat Bhattacharya
