Russia is developing a mega-rocket that will transport supplies to build a base on the moon, the country's Deputy Prime Minister has revealed.

President Vladimir Putin wants work to begin on the new 'super-heavy' rocket which will 'pave the way' for a lunar research station.

It will enable the construction of a Russian base that will be both 'visitable and inhabitable', according to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin.

'On instructions from the president, which is being finalised technically, we are launching a super-heavy space rocket project, with quite different payload capabilities,' he told experts at the space rocket corporation Energiya, TASS reports.

'It will pave the way for implementing the idea of a research station on the Moon, visitable and inhabitable.'