Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) have signed a memorandum of cooperation aimed at building a power plant on the Moon. The memorandum was signed during talks between Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, who discussed strategic cooperation between Russia and China in Moscow. The document was included in a list of agreements reflecting the strengthening of the partnership between the two countries in various fields, including space.

The lunar power plant is a project that will provide energy for a future scientific station on the Moon. It will support fundamental space research, such as the study of the Moon’s surface, its composition, and the space environment. The power plant will be a key element of the ILSS (International Lunar Science Station) infrastructure, which is being created for a long-term human presence on the Moon.

Image above: All pictures of this project are thus far AI generated but they sure inspire the imagination!

The memorandum confirms the intention of Russia and China to jointly develop technologies for the exploration of the Moon. The launch of the power plant is scheduled for 2036. The project has already attracted the attention of the international community: 13 countries have joined it. The lunar station will become a platform for scientific discoveries and international cooperation.

The creation of a lunar power plant will require the development of new technologies, such as energy generation and storage systems in lunar conditions. Russia and China will work on joint research and coordinate efforts with other countries participating in the ILSS.