Russia’s state space agency on Thursday announced plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon as part of its long-term ambitions for lunar exploration.
Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov unveiled the plans in a statement published on Telegram marking Russia Day, saying that his agency is “creating new reasons to be proud and laying the foundation for economic growth and a better quality of life.”
He said that Russia plans to expand its satellite network to improve internet speeds and coverage, upgrade its global navigation system, as well as “move forward with building a new Russian orbital station to succeed the International Space Station.”
Russia is also preparing “to launch the first-ever nuclear power station on the Moon — a cornerstone for future lunar bases,” Bakanov said. “And we will explore Venus. After all, we remain the only country to have successfully landed a spacecraft there.”
The Soviet Union’s Venera program was the first and only mission to land a probe on the surface of Venus, accomplishing the feat in 1970.
“There are grandiose goals ahead,” he said. “We will have to realize such projects that require courage, scale of thought, and engineering genius.”
Bakanov became head of Roscosmos in February after President Vladimir Putin dismissed his predecessor, Yury Borisov, whose term was marked by high-profile failures and stalled programs.
Last August, Russia’s first post-Soviet lunar lander, Luna-25, crashed into the Moon during a pre-landing maneuver. The mission had been touted as a revival of Moscow’s lunar ambitions after decades of limited space activity and growing isolation from the West.
Russia last landed a spacecraft on the Moon in 1976, before shifting its focus to Venus exploration and construction of the Mir space station.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
