Russia and China to Build Autonomous Nuclear Reactor on Moon by 2035

In a historic collaboration, Russia's Roscosmos and China's CNSA announce plans for a joint lunar base powered by an autonomous nuclear reactor, aiming for operational status by 2035.

• Roscosmos and CNSA are collaborating to construct an autonomous nuclear reactor on the Moon, targeting a launch window between 2033 and 2035.
• The nuclear reactor is intended to power the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a lunar base open to all interested countries and international partners.
• Recent tensions and sanctions have made it unlikely for US astronauts to visit the ILRS, highlighting geopolitical challenges in space exploration.
• Russia's previous lunar mission ended in disaster, while China has successfully landed spacecraft on the Moon since 2013.
• The ambitious project aims to enable long-term lunar habitation and research, marking a significant step in international space collaboration.

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