Russian and Chinese engineers aim to use robotic systems to autonomously deliver, install, and operate a nuclear reactor that will be used to power the ILRS lunar facility.
As all eyes were fixated on President Donald Trump and his recent dealmaking in the Middle East, an out-of-this-world announcement was made by Russia. According to the Russian government, Moscow has signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the People’s Republic of China to place a nuclear power plant on the Moon—in what is part of a larger plan to establish a permanent Sino-Russian presence on the lunar surface by 2036.
This, as America’s premier spaceflight organization, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), talks about scaling back its commitment to returning Americans to the moon.
About the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS)
Known as the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), Russia’s nuclear reactor will be key for making the facility work. While the Chinese have taken all the headlines for their work in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, the Russians have also developed some key capabilities in these domains.
Together, Beijing and Moscow plan to deploy advanced robotic construction units to the lunar surface—likely the southern pole of the moon—where these machines will construct the infrastructure free of any human involvement.
Already, China and Russia have attracted 17 countries to this ambitious program. These nations include Egypt, Pakistan, Venezuela, Thailand, and South Africa. In 2028, Beijing intends for their Chang’e-8 lunar lander to be the start of this ambitious program.
Chang’e-8 will land China’s first taikonauts on the lunar surface. It will be the first of several movements by China to establish itself as the dominant lunar power—bringing Russia and those other countries along with it, over time. And, unlike the Americans who had previously made it to the moon, Beijing intends to stay.
The robotic moon base will be moved from the Earth to the moon using five super heavy-lift rockets that are scheduled to launch between 2030-35.
What Kind of Robots Will China Send?
Some of the robots that China is planning to supposedly deploy as part of their construction efforts include the Super Mason Robot.
This system, developed by Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), is an autonomous robot designed to construct lunar structures using bricks from the lunar regolith (soil). The robot functions much like a mason, assembling prefabricated components. Using 3D printing and laser processing of lunar regolith, this machine will construct the base itself. The Super Mason Robot will operate independently.
The aforementioned Chang’e-8 mission will include an experiment to build a lunar brick on-site.
A set of mobile rovers and intelligent “hopping” robots for surface exploration and construction support will be deployed, according to the ILRS timeline that Beijing and Moscow put forward between 2030-36. The rovers will conduct surveillance, collect samples, and transport materials. They will also assist in site preparation, such as leveling terrain or delivering regolith.
Hopping robots are designed for mobility in the moon’s low-gravity environment. These systems will navigate rough terrain and access hard-to-reach areas, potentially for tasks like inspecting construction sites or deploying advanced sensors. The rovers and hopping robots will likely assist with the selection of a base construction site at the lunar south pole and verify technologies for safe landings.
Tunneling rovers are another proposed component of the ILRS mission. They are designed to excavate or manipulate lunar regolith for construction purposes. The rovers will create underground structures or clear material for surface foundations.
They may likely support resource extraction, such as mining water ice or minerals, which is a key focus of the overall ILRS mission. The use of tunnels will be critical for protecting any permanently manned base from radiation and micrometeorites, as well as accessing rich subsurface resources.
Russian and Chinese engineers aim to use robotic systems to autonomously deliver, install, and operate a nuclear reactor that will be used to power the ILRS lunar facility.
Robots will handle the transport of reactor components, likely using Russia’s proposed “nuclear space tugboat”—a reactor-powered cargo ship—and assemble the reactor on the lunar surface. These systems are designed to operate without human intervention due to the risks of handling nuclear materials.
Who Will Do What on the Sino-Russian Lunar Excursion?
China and Russia plan to split the workload for this expedition. Essentially, China will deploy its Chang’e-6, -7, and Chang’e-8 missions to test construction technologies and gather data on the lunar southern pole. What’s more, considering that China is the second-largest economy in GDP terms, it can provide the financial backing for much of the ambitious project.
The Russians, meanwhile, are slated to lend their expertise in nuclear technology, notably for the proposed reactor, leveraging its experience in space-based nuclear power. Moscow further intends to contribute to the ILRS project by deploying their proposed Luna-26 and Luna-28 reconnaissance and supply missions.
Of course, these plans are not without their challenges. Many of these proposals have been on the books for a decade or more. Every few years, both the Russians and Chinese announce some aspect of the ILRS project that sounds incredible. Their plans should not be underestimated, given the geopolitical implications of what they’re trying to accomplish with this new program. But the number of moving parts, and the fact that the Kremlin’s aerospace budget has been drained by more pressing events on Earth, begs the question how Moscow will possibly contribute to the herculean task at hand.
NASA Needs Its Own Lunar Plans
The one thing that must be kept in mind is the way in which the world is bifurcating. Great power competition between the United States, China, and Russia will only intensify over the next decade. High-technology and space development will play pivotal roles in this new tripolar competition.
Therefore, American strategists must not write off the Sino-Russia bid for a permanent lunar presence merely because of the extreme complexity involved in the undertaking. If there is one group that can achieve such lofty geopolitical goals, it is China helped along by Russia.
All the meanwhile, the Americans ignore the requirements of the new space race at their own peril.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / ad3000.
