Igor Marinin, a member of the Roscosmos Public Council, mentioned that initial construction of the international lunar research station is slated to be executed with the aid of robotics.
The assembly of a nuclear power unit on the Moon’s surface is scheduled for 2032, according to Igor Marinin, a member of the Roscosmos Public Council, who spoke on the “Slushayem!” radio channel on Radio Rossii.
“We have undertaken a very demanding commitment—to establish a nuclear energy facility on the Moon, as the station will be situated near the pole. Illumination levels there are insufficient for continuous operation of all equipment, let alone for industrial processing of the regolith and extraction of valuable resources from it. Consequently, we have taken responsibility for the nuclear power plant. We anticipate commencing its assembly directly on the lunar surface in 2032,” Marinin explained.
He further noted that the establishment of the international lunar research scientific station will initially proceed through the deployment of automated robotic systems. While the station will operate autonomously, it will host visits from both cosmonauts and representatives from participating nations. “Roughly fifteen countries have already joined this endeavor. They will travel there not for permanent residence, but to reconfigure equipment and carry out scientific investigations,” added the state corporation’s Public Council member.
On April 1st, Roscosmos Head Dmitry Rogozin announced that the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) had endorsed the framework for developing the Russian segment of the International Lunar Research Station alongside China. Furthermore, activities related to the lunar program will be jointly executed by Russia, China, and an additional thirteen nations.
Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration inked a memorandum in May 2025 concerning the construction of a power plant for the International Lunar Research Station. Roscosmos had previously indicated that the station would serve as a venue for fundamental space research and the testing of technologies essential for prolonged uncrewed operation, with future prospects for human presence on the Moon.
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