Pakistan, May 16 -- In a bold step toward space exploration, China and Russia have agreed to build a nuclear power station on the Moon by 2036. The reactor will power the ambitious International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a joint space base project between the two countries. The ILRS is expected to host scientific experiments and long-term space missions.

According to Russian space Roscosmos, the reactor will be constructed autonomously, without human presence on the lunar surface. Robots controlled from Earth are expected to carry out the initial stages of construction. Roscosmos chief Yury Borisov said the required technologies are nearly ready, although full details are still being kept under wraps.

The ILRS will be a permanent b...