21/9/2024–|Last update: 9/21/202409:58 AM (Makkah Time)
Earlier this September, the Chinese government revealed that statement Through its official English-language website, it announced its efforts to build a lunar base on the surface of the moon according to a comprehensive plan consisting of two main stages. This is a strategic step that supports China's position in the lunar and space exploration program that it has been working on for the past few years.
China's ambitious initiative to create International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) marks the beginning of a new era of global space cooperation, with the pioneering project particularly attractive to developing countries that lack their own space programs, putting Beijing at the forefront of another pole of world powers seeking to enhance their influence in space.
The initiative came after the China National Space Administration officially launched the cooperation initiative on this project in 2017, calling on the international community to join its bandwagon. So far, more than 40 institutions from around the world have signed cooperation agreements with China.
sustainable lunar station
The ILRS project is envisioned as an experimental scientific facility, designed to be a scalable, maintainable system capable of operating autonomously for extended periods. The project also allows for the accommodation of astronauts for short-term periods, making it a versatile platform for enhancing research and development on the lunar surface.
Through smart design, China aims to make human presence on the moon sustainable. The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase includes building a basic facility near the South Pole, with work to be completed by 2035. The second phase is to expand the base to become a comprehensive network linking the South Pole, the equator and the far side of the moon, with work to be completed by 2050.
Wu Weiren, director and chief scientist of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, stressed at the space conference held in the Chinese city of Huangshan that the ILRS project is based on the principles of exchange of ideas, joint construction and shared benefits among all parties involved at the regional and global levels.
Wu Yanhua, chief designer of China's deep space exploration project, called on countries from all over the world to participate in this project, with various types of contributions, whether it is equipment development, system design, or even cooperation at the task implementation level, in order to unify efforts.
China also plans to establish several international organizations to facilitate cooperation, including a global cooperation committee, an expert advisory committee, and a scientific alliance for space technology innovation. These organizations will help coordinate efforts among global partners and complete the project in record time.
Chang'e Space Project Is a Role Model
The successful cooperation between China and European and Asian countries in the Chang’e missions is a milestone that can be built upon in the future, and the upcoming Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 missions will further strengthen this cooperation. Chang’e-7 is scheduled to carry six international scientific instruments to the lunar surface in 2026, while Chang’e-8 will carry a 200-kilogram payload from several international partners.
Ayman Ahmed, Executive Director of the Space Program at the Egyptian Space Agency, expressed his pride in participating in the upcoming Chang'e mission, by providing an AI-powered camera, with the support of the Changchun Institute of Optics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. This camera is an example of the diversity of participation of countries with different capabilities in space exploration, in China's space missions.
Senegal also recently joined the list of partners in the ILRS initiative last September, in a clear indication that China is targeting developing countries in the African continent to enhance its position in the space market.
Beijing aims to pass on astronomy and space sciences to countries that aspire to enhance scientific and technical capabilities, and to bridge the gap between ambition and capabilities. Representatives from Senegal also noted that the partnership with China will help grow a new generation of space scientists and build a solid scientific foundation on the African continent.