Russia could provide a small nuclear power plant for a planned mission to Mars by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, said on Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy for international cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, according to Reuters, as reported by Agerpres.
He stated that Moscow could discuss the offer with Musk through a video conference.
The proposal comes after American President Donald Trump initiated talks with Russia to improve bilateral relations, which were at their lowest in decades due to Russia’s involvement in the Ukraine war. Moscow is trying to develop economic cooperation with Washington, even though American sanctions against Russia due to the conflict remain in place.
Musk, who has a close relationship with Trump, announced earlier this month that his Starship rocket will take off for Mars by the end of next year, despite several failed tests and skepticism from space experts about Musk’s projected timeline.
When could people reach Mars?
In a post on X, Musk wrote that transporting humans to Mars could happen as early as 2029, but “2031 is more likely.” Last year, he spoke about plans to build an “autonomous city in about 20 years” on Mars, which would require a source of energy.
Speaking at the Arctic Forum in Murmansk, Dmitriev, who also heads a fund that works to attract foreign investors, stated that Russia could contribute greatly to a potential mission to Mars.
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