Roscosmos is ready to send equipment for future nuclear power plant to the Moon despite no visible progress in its development
On Oct. 21, Russia's space agency Roscosmos once again reported successes in the development of a nuclear power plant project for lunar missions. The mission itself is not scheduled to take place until the mid-2030s, but the agency claims that the launch vehicle is ready and that the only outstanding issue is the production of the power source itself. The Insider explains why scientists both in…
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, has declared a nuclear power plant project for lunar missions ready for launch despite limited progress in development. The program, known as the "Lunar Power Unit," aims to supply power to future Russian infrastructure on the Moon. Roscosmos claims the launch vehicle is prepared, with the remaining task being the creation of the power source.
The project, first announced in 2024, involves a power unit with up to 10 kW output, weighing less than 1,200 kg, and a service life exceeding 10 years. It is designed to withstand launch loads, vacuum conditions, radiation, and lunar night temperatures dropping to -150°C. Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev emphasized the unit's proven performance in similar harsh environments, including lighthouses in the Northern Sea Route and the Chinese Yutu lunar rover.
The project, which is a collaborative effort with China, aims to serve the Russian-Chinese lunar station. While Roscosmos expects the project to be completed by 2036, skeptics question the timeline given the lack of visible progress.
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