Russia’s Academy of Sciences has outlined plans for a federal lunar program costing roughly 700 billion rubles ($9 billion) through 2036, with the explicit goal of eventually establishing “sovereign Russian territories” on the lunar surface, officials said at a presidium meeting this week.
The announcement came during an April 7 presentation at a Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) meeting dedicated to space exploration. RAS Vice President Sergey Chernyshev detailed the program under the federal “Space Science” project, which includes robotic missions for resource mapping and technology development. TASS reported that the long-term aim includes creating sovereign Russian territories on the Moon.
The lunar portion of the program is part of a broader national space effort totaling approximately 4.4 trillion rubles. RAS Academician Anatoly Petrukovich specified the 700 billion ruble figure for lunar activities through 2036. The presentation also confirmed further delays to Russia’s robotic lunar missions: Luna-26 has slipped to 2028, Luna-29 to 2032, Luna-30 to 2034, and Luna-28 to 2036. The shifts follow the 2023 crash of the Luna-25 lander.
Russia has not yet published a formal government decree or Roscosmos press release confirming the new budget and timeline; the details were presented by Academy scientists as part of a proposed roadmap.
Comparison to NASA’s Artemis program
The Russian plans come amid a renewed international race to establish a sustained presence on the Moon. NASA’s Artemis program is advancing on a faster timeline, with Artemis II completing a crewed lunar flyby earlier this month and Artemis III targeted for a crewed lunar orbit and landing test in 2027. Artemis IV aims for the first crewed lunar landing and initial base elements in early 2028.
Artemis is led by the United States with international partners under the Artemis Accords and focuses on sustainable human presence, resource utilization and commercial development.
China’s lunar efforts and Russia-China cooperation
China is pursuing its own ambitious lunar program and is collaborating with Russia on the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The joint project includes plans for a nuclear power plant on the Moon’s surface by around 2035 to support a permanent base. China has already completed multiple robotic Chang’e missions, including sample returns, and targets crewed landings and base construction in the 2030s.
Russia and China signed memoranda of understanding on the ILRS in 2025, positioning the station as a counterpart to the U.S.-led Artemis program.
Roscosmos and the Russian government did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Academy’s presentation or the proposed funding.
Details of the RAS meeting were first reported by Russian state media and independent outlets. The Moscow Times cited the specific funding statements by Petrukovich and Chernyshev.
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