Russia Plans to Build a Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon by 2036

Overview: Russia’s space agency Roscosmos has announced plans to deploy a nuclear-powered energy station on the Moon by 2036. The facility will support lunar rovers, observatories, and the International Lunar Research Station in collaboration with China. The project marks a shift toward sustainable, long-term lunar operations beyond short-duration missions.

Riyaz

Dec-26-2025

Russia Plans to Build a Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon by 2036

The state space corporation Roscosmos in Russia declared that they are building a nuclear-powered energy station to be placed on the moon by 2036 to aid in its long term exploration plans of the moon, as well as collaborative missions with China. This project entails a contract entered into with the Lavochkin Association to build the lunar power infrastructure and launch it in space to power up the rovers, the observatories, and the International Lunar Research Station. The venture would be a strategic change of the short-term missions to the sustainable operations in space and in off-Earth and increased cooperation between the space and nuclear sector in Russia, also Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute.

Why a Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon?

Russia is already intending to construct a Nuclear power facility on the Moon by 2036 to provide constant and uninterrupted energy to its long term lunar exploration programme.
The plant is to supply lunar rovers, an observatory and infrastructure of the joint Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station.
According to Roscosmos, this project will contribute to the process of leaving one-time missions behind and moving on to a permanently working scientific lunar base.
The reason to select nuclear power is that it can deliver constant power irrespective of the long night of the Moon, which would support long operation.

Previous Year Questions Moon and Mission

Exam	Year	Question	Answer
UPSC Prelims	2008	SELENE-1 lunar mission belongs to which country?	Japan
UPSC Prelims	2009	Which planet has the highest number of natural satellites?	Jupiter
UPSC Prelims	2015	Ocean tides are mainly caused by the gravitational pull of which bodies?	Moon and Sun
RRB Gorakhpur	2009	When was Chandrayaan-1 launched?	22 October 2008
SSC CPO	2019	From where was Chandrayaan-1 launched?	Sriharikota
BSSC CGL	2022	What was India’s first Moon mission?	Chandrayaan-1
Maharashtra PSC	2019	In which month was Chandrayaan-1 launched?	October 2008
UPSSSC Mandi Inspector	2019	What was the launch date of Chandrayaan-1?	22 October 2008
NHPC JE	2023	Which was India’s first lunar mission?	Chandrayaan-1
SSC	2020	The Moon is a —	Natural satellite
Railways	2018	The Moon completes one revolution around the Earth in —	About 27.3 days
SSC	2017	How is the Moon’s atmosphere?	Very thin / negligible
Defence	2016	Does the Moon rotate on its axis?	Yes
State PSC	2021	What did Chandrayaan-1 discover on the Moon?	Presence of water molecules
SSC	2023	What is the name of Chandrayaan-3’s rover?	Pragyan
SSC	2023	What is the name of Chandrayaan-3’s lander?	Vikram
State PSC	2023	Where did Chandrayaan-3 land on the Moon?	South polar region
SSC	2016	A lunar eclipse occurs when —	Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon
Railways	2019	The most common surface feature on the Moon is —	Craters
Defence	2020	How is the temperature on the Moon?	Extremely high in the day and very low at night

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Conclusion (Nuclear Power Plant on the Moon)

The construction of a nuclear power station on the Moon can revolutionize space exploration because it entails the availability of a reliable energy supply that is used in long missions, lunar bases, and the conducting of scientific experiments. It would be in favor of constant human presence, the possibility to deploy advanced technology, and a significant move towards the future of human people beyond the Earth.