China and Russia are planning a nuclear revolution in space: By 2028, a small power plant is expected to be established on the Moon, laying the groundwork for a manned research station.
What exactly is planned on the Moon? As reported by Xataka, China and Russia aim to begin construction of a small nuclear power plant on the lunar surface in 2028. The project name is Chang’e-8 (via CNSA).
The ambitious goal: to provide energy for the planned International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which is to be fully operational by 2035. The plans are outlined in the guidance for partnerships from the Chinese space agency published in 2021 (via CNSA).
Kickoff 2028
How is the construction supposed to proceed? The Chang’e-8 mission that China wants to launch in 2028 will include both initial construction measures for the station and the preparation of the reactor.
The energy supply represents one of the biggest hurdles for the ILRS. “An important question for the ILRS is the power supply,” said Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese lunar research program, to the news agency Reuters. Russia has a natural advantage in this regard, especially in the field of nuclear power plants for space use. In this area, the country is a global leader and superior to the USA.
Because of this, China relies on support for the ambitious project. Russia will officially continue to be listed as a partner in the ILRS project. However, since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, China has taken the lead and is largely pushing the project forward.
Overall, according to futurezone.at, 13 countries are involved in the planned lunar station, including the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Pakistan, Switzerland, and South Africa. Additionally, more than 40 international organizations are to cooperate with China.
What is the reactor supposed to look like? The planned lunar reactor combines modern NASA technology with the proven Soviet reactor design TOPAZ-II, according to Xataka. Notably, it will use ring-shaped fuel rods made of uranium oxide, which are intended to ensure compact and stable energy generation.
The reactor will be cooled by a dual cooling system using a special sodium-potassium alloy (NaK-78). Additionally, a moderator made of yttrium hydride is expected to be used (A moderator serves to slow down free neutrons, which are usually relatively energetic when released (via NPTEL)).
And the competition? The USA is also planning a sustainable lunar base as part of the Artemis program. Two astronauts are expected to set foot on the Moon again in 2027.
Since solar energy is insufficient due to the long lunar nights, NASA is working on its own nuclear reactor called Fission Surface Power (FSP) (via Asia Times).
The race for a permanent presence on the Moon has already begun. Whether China and Russia can stick to their ambitious timeline remains to be seen, especially in light of the tense geopolitical situation. SpaceX, Elon Musk’s space company, is not directly involved in the plans but has recently been sued instead: Elon Musk is being sued by a card game for allegedly littering their land
