In the future of lunar exploration, nuclear energy could play a key role. This is the vision of Russia and China, which after the first contacts are getting to the heart of their joint plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon within the three-year period 2033-2035.
The Russian space agency Roscosmos , China National Space Administration (CNSA) they intend to carry out this ambitious project in a fully automated way, without the presence of humans on the lunar surface. An unprecedented technological and engineering challenge, which could open new frontiers for space exploration, but which also raises questions about the risks and implications of bringing nuclear energy beyond the boundaries of our planet.
A lunar base with a view to nuclear power
The nuclear reactor proposed by Russia and China will not be an end in itself, but will have a very specific purpose: to power the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a lunar base that the two nations intend to operate together. This futuristic structure, which according to plans will be "open to all interested countries and international partners" (maybe of the BRICS area), could become a crucial outpost for the exploration of the moon and deep space.
Technological challenges and atomic risks
Building a nuclear reactor on the moon will certainly not be a spacewalk. Secondo Yuri Borisov, director general of Roscosmos, this challenging task will likely be performed autonomously “without the presence of humans” and the necessary technological solutions are “almost ready”.
In that "almost", in my opinion, there is a world. “Almost” does not mean “completely,” and the risks of a nuclear malfunction or accident on the moon are far from negligible. Furthermore, Roscosmos is also considering the use of huge nuclear-powered rockets to carry the payloads needed to build the lunar base, but he hasn't understood yet how to make these spacecraft safely. In short, the road to nuclear energy on the moon is paved with unknowns and potential dangers.
An obstacle course to the moon
Russia and China, who have never put humans on the lunar surface, have a contrasting track record when it comes to recent explorations of our satellite.
Last year, the first Russian lunar mission in 47 years ended in disaster, with the Luna-25 lander crashing into the lunar surface, leaving a 10-meter-wide crater. China, however, has one presence on the moon since 2013 and plans to send astronauts by 2030, although it lags behind NASA and its Artemis program.
In other words, the race for lunar energy is also an obstacle race, in which every false step can cost dearly in terms of time, resources and prestige.
The lunar one is a challenge to American space hegemony
Beyond the technological challenges and nuclear risks, the Russian-Chinese plan for a lunar reactor also has a clear geopolitical subtext. At a time when relations between Russia, China and the United States are at an all-time low, this space collaboration appears as a direct challenge to American hegemony in space.
If Moscow and Beijing succeed in bringing nuclear energy to the moon before Washington, it will be a serious blow to the prestige and leadership of the United States in the space sector. And with NASA aiming to return humans to the moon by 2026 with the Artemis program, the race for lunar energy is inevitably intertwined with the race for space armaments and to supremacy in the cosmos.
A nuclear future for space exploration?
Beyond geopolitical rivalries, however, the Russian-Chinese plan for a lunar reactor also raises broader questions about the future of space exploration. As humanity prepares to return to the moon and push toward Mars and beyond, nuclear energy could prove to be a valuable resource for powering bases and spacecraft.
But the risks and challenges of this technology are equally great, and require careful reflection and international cooperation. In short, the road to the stars also passes through the atom, but it must be traveled with wisdom and caution.
