Russia is working to complete the development of a small nuclear reactor for the International Lunar Research Station in partnership with China, Roscosmos CEO Dmitry Bakanov stated in an interview with TASS ahead of Russia’s Space Week, which runs from April 9-12.
“We are implementing this project [to create small reactors for deployment on the Moon] with the Kurchatov Institute, Rosatom, and Rosatom’s entities. It’s not as if all the issues have been solved yet. We have a specific schedule for this project. But these technologies already exist; they may not be fully developed enough to be considered for launching to the Moon today, but we are nonetheless working very closely with them in this area,” Bakanov said.
In May 2025, Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) signed a memorandum on the construction of a power plant for the International Lunar Research Station.
Mikhail Kovalchuk, president of the Kurchatov Institute National Research Center, also commented on the lunar reactor.
“By 2030-2032, the station should be ready for installation on the Moon,” Kovalchuk said at the Russian Academy of Sciences presidium titled “Space as a Source of Scientific Knowledge, Progress and Cooperation.”
He further elaborated that the reactor will be based on new radiation-resistant materials.
In an interview on Vesti TV, Pavel Kazmerchuk, chief designer of the lunar program at Roscomos’ NPO Lavochkin Research and Production Association, explained how the reactor would be delivered to the Moon:
“The first launch on the Angara-A5M rocket and the D-M upper stage will deliver a lunar service rover and specialized equipment. The second launch will deliver the main lunar service rover, which will operate there, and a charging and distribution station. The third launch will deliver the nuclear power plant, after which the rover will connect the nuclear power plant to the charging and distribution station via cable, then the station will begin operating. The rover will also connect other systems that will land in the lunar area,” Kazmerchuk said.
