Overview

• China and Russia plan to construct a nuclear power plant on the Moon to support their joint International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).
• The ILRS energy system will combine nuclear power with large-scale solar arrays and surface infrastructure like pipelines and cables for heating and electricity.
• China aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, with the Chang’e-8 mission in 2028 laying the groundwork for the lunar base.
• The '555 Project' was announced to expand international collaboration, involving 50 countries, 500 institutions, and 5,000 researchers in the ILRS initiative.
• The ILRS project reflects intensifying competition with NASA's Artemis program, which plans to return astronauts to the Moon by 2027.