China plans to deploy mini-nuclear power plants on the Moon to power the international space station. A likely partner for the project will be Russia, which is developing a compact nuclear reactor.
At a presentation in Shanghai, the chief engineer of the Chinese Chang’e-8 mission, Pei Zhao Yu, presented the concept of a lunar base that China intends to create after 2030. As part of the Chang’e-8 mission, planned for 2028, a lander with a lunar rover and a robot will be sent to the Moon. Later, a base would be set up there, including a nuclear reactor.
Lunar conditions make nuclear power preferable: 14 days of night limits the use of solar panels. However, the operation of a nuclear power plant on the Earth’s satellite is fraught with difficulties. The reactor requires heat removal, but the Moon has no atmosphere, and radiators can overheat during the day. In addition, their installation is complicated due to the characteristics of the soil.
According to Reuters, Russia may supply the reactor for the lunar base. The head of Roscosmos announced the start of development of a compact installation with a power of 500 kW. They plan to deliver it to the Moon using an unmanned cargo ship. The base should be operational by 2033–2035.
The joint project between China and Russia to create a lunar nuclear power plant opens up new prospects in space exploration. Although technical challenges remain, the successful implementation of this initiative could be an important step towards a permanent human presence on the Moon.
Source: naked-science.ru
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