Russia sets 2036 target for lunar power station under long-term Moon program
Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos (Roscosmos) announced plans to build an electric power station on the Moon by 2036 as part of a wider shift toward a sustained lunar exploration program.
Roscosmos reported that it signed a state contract in December 2025 with NPO Lavochkin (Lavochkin) to carry out work related to building the lunar power facility by 2036. The project was described as a step toward establishing a permanently operating scientific station on the Moon and moving from one-off lunar missions to a longer-term exploration program.
The plan for the lunar power station is tied to broader work that includes developing new spacecraft, conducting ground testing and flight testing, and deploying infrastructure on the lunar surface. The implementation window was described as spanning 2025 through 2036.
The power station is intended to provide long-term energy supply for hardware and facilities tied to Russia’s lunar program, including lunar rovers and observatories, as well as infrastructure linked to the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The ILRS was described as an international scientific station planned for long-term operations, including facilities connected to international partners.
The announcement also reiterated that Russia and China have already outlined plans to build a lunar scientific station with cooperation from multiple countries. In 2021, Roscosmos and China signed an agreement connected to that effort.
Within the broader roadmap referenced in the announcement, China is expected to send Chang’e-6, Chang’e-7, and Chang’e-8 spacecraft to the Moon. Russia’s lunar program planning was described as including missions to lunar orbit, as well as missions intended to explore the lunar surface.
