Moscow, December 24 (QNA) - The Russian State Space Corporation (ROSCOSMOS) has announced its intention to establish a nuclear power plant on the Moon over the next decade.

The objective of this move entails providing energy for its lunar program and support the Russian‑Chinese International Lunar Research Station.

In a statement, the agency said it plans to build the station on the Moon by 2036, and that it has signed a contract with the Russian aerospace company Lavochkin Association to carry out the project.

ROSCOSMOS noted that the purpose of the station is to power Russia's lunar program, including rovers, the observatory, and the infrastructure of the Russian‑Chinese International Lunar Research Station.

The agency described the project as a consequential step toward establishing a permanent scientific station on the Moon and transitioning from individual missions to a long-term lunar exploration program.

Noteworthy, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space in 1961, a historic achievement that established Russia's position as a major space exploration power. (QNA)