Russia could supply nuclear power plant for Musk’s Mars mission – Putin’s envoy

Russian President, Vladimir Putin's international cooperation envoy, Kirill Dmitriev said on Thursday, said that Russia could supply a small nuclear power plant for a mission to Mars planned by billionaire entrepreneur and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

Dmitriev said Moscow could discuss the offer with Musk by video conference.

This is said to be the second time Dmitriev has spoken of potential cooperation with Musk this month.

The proposal comes after the US President Donald Trump launched talks with Russia aimed at reviving bilateral ties which were languishing at their lowest level in decades due to Russia's war in Ukraine.

It was gathered that Moscow is seeking to develop economic cooperation with Washington, even as US sanctions against Russia over the conflict remain in place.

Musk, a close Trump associate, said earlier this month that his Starship rocket would blast off for Mars by the end of next year despite various failures in tests and amid skepticism from some space experts about Musk's projected timeline.

Musk, in a post on X, said human landings could take place as early as 2029, but that 2031 was more likely.

He spoke last year of plans to build a self-sustaining city in about 20 years on Mars, something that would need a power source.

Speaking in Murmansk on the sidelines of an Arctic Forum, Dmitriev, who is also head of a fund that works to attract foreign investors, said Russia could contribute a lot to a potential Mars mission.

“Russia can offer a small-sized nuclear power plant for a mission to Mars and other advanced technological capabilities.

“We believe that Russia has a lot to offer for a mission to Mars, because we have some nuclear technologies that I think could be applicable,” he said.