Russia plans to build lunar power plant by 2036

In December, the Russian State Corporation for Space Activities, Roscosmos, signed a contract to carry out work through 2036 on the creation of a Russian lunar power plant. The state corporation reported this on social media.

The lunar power plant is required to provide a long-term energy supply for consumers of the Russian lunar programme, such as lunar rovers and an observatory, as well as infrastructure facilities of the International Lunar Research Station, including those of foreign partners.

The project envisages the development of specialised spacecraft, followed by a series of flight and ground-based tests to validate key technologies. These efforts will culminate in the phased deployment of energy and support infrastructure on the Moon, forming the foundation for long-term scientific operations.

It is noted that the project will be an important step towards establishing a permanently operating scientific lunar station and transitioning from one-off missions to a long-term lunar research programme.

Photo: Nzoka John / iStock