LUNAR NUCLEAR PLANT ON MOON (Syllabus GS Paper 2/3 – IR/Sci and Tech)

Context: India and China are expected to collaborate with Russia to establish a nuclear power plant on the Moon, marking a significant step in lunar exploration and energy development.

Nuclear Power Plant on Moon

• About: The project will led by Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation. The initiative aligns with India’s plans for a manned lunar mission by 2040 and the establishment of a lunar base.
• Objective: To build a small nuclear power plant capable of generating up to half a megawatt of energy, providing the necessary power for the base.
• Energy for Lunar Base: The reactor will provide energy for a proposed lunar base, which Russia and China are jointly working on. India's desire for a lunar base coincides with its possible participation in the lunar power project.
• Complex Construction: The construction of this lunar nuclear power plant will be complex. Russia previously revealed that it would likely be carried out autonomously without the direct involvement of humans.
• International Lunar Research Station (ILRS): In 2021, Russia and China announced plans to build a joint lunar base called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) which could be commissioned in phases between 2035 and 2045.

Significance of the Nuclear Power Plant

• Establishing a lunar colony: For which a stable and continuous energy source is essential and nuclear power is viewed as the most viable solution.
• Power in Shadowed Areas: The reactor can be positioned in permanently shadowed lunar regions, potentially where water ice exists, ensuring continuous power production through lunar nights.
• Weather Independence: The plant produces energy unaffected by lunar weather conditions, ensuring reliable power supply.
• Support for NASA’s Goals: The reactor could bolster NASA’s efforts to maintain a sustained human presence on the Moon for at least a decade.