President Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying the agreement with the government of China on cooperation in creating the International Lunar Scientific Station (ILSS). The document has been published on the legal information portal.
The agreement was signed by Moscow and Beijing in November 2022. It establishes the organizational and legal basis for cooperation in the creation and operation of the station for the peaceful exploration and use of the Moon. The document also regulates the financing of the project, tax and customs issues, and provides a mechanism for resolving disputes in case of disagreements.
Additionally, the agreement includes the principle of mutual waivers of claims for liability and compensation for damages that may be incurred. This principle does not apply in cases where damage is caused by intentional unlawful actions or negligence. Russia and China also commit to supporting the activities of citizens entering the territory of both countries to work within bilateral space programs and projects.
In May, the Director General of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, announced that Russia, in collaboration with China, plans to send a nuclear power plant to the lunar station. Development of the plant has already begun. He specified that the plant will first be tested on Earth, with plans to send it to the Moon after 2036.