Russia has announced ambitious plans to construct an anti-gravity space station where astronauts could walk and work without floating. Energia, the main contractor for Russia’s human spaceflight program, has submitted designs for a station that would replicate half of Earth’s gravity.
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According to the Russian Federation Federal Service of Intellectual Property, the station is intended to “improve the design of a space system with artificial gravity in order to increase the safety of use by the crew.” The innovative design includes a central spinning module connected to rotating arms, which would generate centrifugal force to simulate gravity for the crew. The patent also describes an axial module with both static and rotating parts, habitable modules, rotation equipment, and power sources, allowing astronauts to move freely without experiencing weightlessness.
The construction of the station would require multiple orbital launches and in-orbit assembly, with the design allowing for expansion by adding more habitation modules along the rotating arms over time.
The development comes alongside Russia’s plans to build a nuclear power station on the Moon within the next decade. The lunar plant is intended to support the Russian-Chinese International Lunar Research Station by supplying energy for rovers, observatories, and infrastructure. Roscosmos has signed a contract with the Lavochkin Association aerospace company to carry out the project, targeting operational capability by 2036.
While Roscosmos has not explicitly confirmed the plant’s nuclear status, Russia’s leading nuclear organizations, Rosatom and the Kurchatov Institute, are involved. The space agency has indicated that the lunar power station will serve as a stepping stone for future interplanetary missions, including expeditions to Venus.
Russia’s plans mirror a growing international race for lunar resources and infrastructure. NASA recently announced intentions to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030, emphasizing the importance of reliable energy for sustained lunar bases. U.S. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted the competitive nature of the new space race, noting, “To have a base on the Moon, we need energy.”
