On March 5, it was reported by TASS, a Russian news agency, that the CEO of Roscosmos Yury Borisov announced that Russia and China are “seriously considering” installing a nuclear reactor on the moon.
Roscosmos is the space agency of the Russian Federation. In March 2021, Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) signed an agreement to cooperate to create an International Lunar Research Station on the surface of the moon.
This reactor would likely be designed to support the International Lunar Research Station.
The International Lunar Research Station would be “open to all interested countries and international partners” according to LiveScience.
The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 banned any nation from claiming sovereignty or establishing military bases on celestial bodies.
The base being designated as ‘open to all’ allows for Russia and China to get around these restrictions.
This follows the increased development and deployment of Russian and Chinese space-based assets in lower earth orbit and on the moon.
