Russia Plans Lunar Nuclear Plant

Russia plans to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon by 2036 to support its lunar space program and a joint research station with China. Russia — Roscosmos, Russia's state space corporation, has signed a contract with Lavochkin for this project, with Rosatom and Russia — Kurchatov Institute involved. This initiative aims to power Russia's lunar program, including rovers and observatories, and facilitate long-term lunar exploration. The United States, through United States — NASA, also intends to place a nuclear reactor on the Moon by early 2030, highlighting a competitive race in space exploration, particularly against China. This competition is driven by the potential for valuable resources like Helium and Rare-earth element on the Moon, which could lead to a 'lunar gold rush'.