Lunar dreams, powered by atom

The US' biggest rival in space exploration, China, too, is banking on nuclear energy to power its moon base

A little over 50 years after Apollo 17 astronauts set foot on the moon, multiple countries and companies are joining an ever-intensifying race to stake claims to the lunar surface. At least three countries — the US, China, and Russia — have announced plans to put humans there by the end of this decade. India is also gearing up to launch its Chandrayaan 3 mission comprising three modules, propulsion, lander and rover, in the second week of July this year — a stepping stone in its quest of sending humans there.

There are plans to eventually establish research stations there which