China is set to build a moon base near the lunar South Pole by 2035, marking a significant step in its space exploration goals. This project, part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative, will unfold in two phases.
On September 10, Andrew Jones published a news article on SPACE.com that included these details.
Phase 1: By 2035, China aims to establish a basic robotic outpost on the moon. This initial phase involves five major rocket launches, which will lay the groundwork for a more advanced base.
Phase 2: By around 2050, China plans to expand this base into a comprehensive lunar station network. This network will feature a central hub in lunar orbit and a primary base at the South Pole. Additionally, exploration nodes will be set up on the moon's equator and far side.
Wu Yanhua, chief designer of China's deep space exploration programme, detailed these plans at the second International Deep Space Exploration Conference in Anhui on September 5. He also mentioned that the extended base will be powered by a combination of solar, radioisotope, and nuclear generators. The infrastructure will include high-speed communication networks, various lunar vehicles, and both pressurised and unpressurised rovers.
Furthermore, Wu highlighted that this moon base will lay the groundwork for future crewed missions to Mars.
China has been actively recruiting international partners for the ILRS project. Recently, Senegal joined as the 13th country to participate. Meanwhile, NASA's Artemis programme is working on its own moon missions, with both organisations aiming to land astronauts on the moon by the end of this decade.
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