Roscosmos CEO: Important to develop compact, durable nuclear energy source for lunar projects

KALUGA. April 15 (Interfax) - The development of a nuclear energy source for a lunar station could serve as Russia's contribution to this joint project with China, Russia's Roscosmos state space corporation CEO Yury Borisov said.

"It's even more important to create a compact, reliable, long-term and durable nuclear energy source on the Moon. And this could be one of Russia's substantial contributions to the Russian-Chinese joint project," Borisov said in a lecture for students and cadets at the Tsiolkovsky State Museum of Cosmonautics History in Kaluga on Monday.

During a lunar night, which lasts approximately 14 Earth days, the operation of electrical appliances in the shade cannot be ensured solely by charging solar panels during the day, he said.

Earlier, Borisov said Roscosmos was analyzing the delivery and installation of a nuclear power plant on the Moon in collaboration with Chinese partners in 2033-2035.