China, Russia float idea for nuclear power on the moon: 'want to upstage the United States'

Join Fox News for access to this content Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge. Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided. Having trouble? Click here.

China and Russia have suggested building a nuclear power plant on the moon, with the goal of finishing the project by 2035 and subsequently helping establish lunar settlements.

"The Russians have the world’s most mature space program, having accumulated a lot of firsts: First satellite launched in space (Sputnik); first [vessel] to the moon; and the first man, woman and a dog in space," Rebekah Koffler told Fox News Digital. "They’ve got a lot of ‘know-how,’ [which] they’ve shared some of that know-how with China."

"Russia and China want to upstage the United States by placing a nuclear reactor on the moon first," Koffler said. "Whomever gets it first will dictate the terms of discourse to late comers, and that’s the strategic type threat."

Yuri Borisov, head of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos, said on Tuesday Russia and China have considered the project, working jointly to determine its viability. Russia provided "nuclear space energy" expertise to the discussion.

CHINA COULD SEIZE THE MOON. WE NEED TO STOP THEM

"Today we are seriously considering a project — somewhere at the turn of 2033-2035 — to deliver and install a power unit on the lunar surface together with our Chinese colleagues," Borisov said while speaking at a youth event.

"This is a very serious challenge...it should be done