Joint Chinese-Russian Initiative: Planning for a Nuclear-Powered Lunar Research Station by 2035
In 2021, the Chinese and Russian space agencies forged a collaborative agreement to establish a research facility on the Moon. Recently, they unveiled plans to construct an automated nuclear reactor on the lunar surface, intended to energize the International Lunar Research Station by the year 2035.
Since the departure of Apollo 17 in December 1972, no human has set foot on the lunar surface. Despite numerous uncrewed missions dispatched to the Moon in recent years, progress toward human exploration has been incremental, delaying the eagerly anticipated return to our celestial neighbor.
Ambitious Goals: Humanless Reactor Deployment
Although China and Russia aspire to land humans on the Moon by 2030 and 2031, respectively, their latest venture contemplates deploying the nuclear reactor without direct human intervention. Yury Borisov, CEO of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, revealed plans to implement the reactor autonomously, stressing the necessity of overcoming this formidable challenge devoid of human presence.
Borisov emphasized the inadequacy of solar panels alone in meeting the power demands of prospective lunar settlements, underscoring the pivotal role of nuclear energy in sustaining human habitation on the Moon.
Geopolitical Complexities and Technological Hurdles
While the International Lunar Research Station was initially envisioned as a collaborative effort, recent geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia’s actions in Ukraine have strained international cooperation in space endeavors.
Additionally, the development of a nuclear-powered cargo spaceship, crucial for transporting essential materials to the Moon, faces technical obstacles, notably the challenge of effectively cooling the nuclear reactor.
Looking Ahead
Despite these challenges, Russian efforts persist in advancing the space tugboat project, a monumental endeavor aimed at facilitating lunar missions and addressing various space-related tasks.
Overcoming technical hurdles such as nuclear reactor cooling remains imperative to achieving the ambitious goal of establishing a Moon base by 2035.
Read the original article on IFL Science.
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