China and Russia sign memorandum of understanding to build nuclear reactor on the moon, to power their own lunar base

On May 8, 2025 local time, it was reported that China and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding to build a nuclear power plant on the moon. This nuclear power plant will supply electricity to the Chinese-Russian lunar base,

https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/111329/

China signs deal with Russia to build a power plant on the moon — potentially leaving the US in the dust | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/space/the-moon/china-signs-deal-with-russia-to-build-a-power-plant-on-the-moon-potentially-leaving-the-us-in-the-dust

China's space agency , the China National Space Administration , and Russia's state-owned space corporation, Roscosmos , are planning to build their own lunar base, the Intercontinental Lunar Base (ILRS), separate from the one planned by NASA in the United States.

Russia and China agree to build 'International Scientific Lunar Station,' seeking alternative to NASA's Lunar Orbital Platform Gateway - GIGAZINE

The ILRS is a permanent manned lunar base located at the south pole of the moon, and 17 countries, including Egypt, Pakistan, Venezuela, Thailand, and South Africa, have announced their participation so far. The foundation of the ILRS will be laid by China's Chang'e-8 mission scheduled for 2028, after which China and Russia plan to transport components for the lunar base using super heavy launch vehicles between 2030 and 2035.

One way to power the ILRS has emerged as a nuclear power plant built on the moon. In March 2025, Yuri Borisov, who was CEO of Roscosmos at the time, told Russia's state-run news agency TASS that China and Russia were seriously considering a joint project to build a nuclear power plant on the moon.

The Chinese and Russian lunar nuclear power plant is expected to be built between 2033 and 2035, and construction will likely be autonomous, without human presence. Borisov said the necessary technological solutions are almost in place.

Then, on May 12, it was reported that the China National Space Administration and Roscosmos had signed a memorandum of understanding on building a nuclear power plant on the moon. Roscosmos stated, 'The memorandum is included in the list of documents signed as a result of today's meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.'

Roscosmos claims that the lunar nuclear power plant will be an important contribution to the ILRS, which will 'conduct fundamental space research and test technologies for long-term unmanned operation of a lunar base with a view to a human presence on the Moon.'

Meanwhile, the United States, which competes with China and Russia in space development, has proposed cutting NASA program costs by $6 billion (about 880 billion yen) from the previous year in its 2026 budget proposal announced in May 2025 under President Donald Trump.

Trump's New Budget Proposal Proposes Over $6 Billion Cuts to NASA's Budget - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.co.jp/news/articles/2025-05-02/SVN355T0AFB500

The new budget proposal calls for the cancellation of missions such as the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, a manned space station that would orbit the moon, and Mars Sample Return, a mission to bring back rock and dust samples from Mars.