On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved legislation that formalizes Russia's collaboration with China in establishing a lunar base. This partnership is part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative, which includes over 30 nations and international entities, with about 20 having signed formal agreements to participate.
The Chinese state-run media outlet, Global Times, highlighted that Egypt and Bahrain are among the countries involved in China’s next lunar mission, Chang’e-7, set for 2026. This mission aims to survey the Moon's south pole and includes payload contributions from Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Thailand, and the International Lunar Observatory Association.
China's ambitious lunar program has made significant strides. The Chang’e-6 mission successfully landed on the Moon's dark side on June 2, collecting soil samples. This achievement positioned China alongside the United States, Japan, and India in lunar exploration capabilities. The next phase involves the Chang’e-7 mission, with a broader goal of achieving a manned lunar landing by 2030 and establishing a functional moonbase by 2045. The base is envisioned as a launch point for further missions to Mars and beyond, with construction materials sourced from the Moon itself.
From its inception, China has promoted the lunar base as a collaborative international project. A promotional video from 2021 even featured a NASA Space Shuttle launching from the proposed base. The Global Times recently emphasized that the partnership with Russia would significantly enhance global space exploration efforts, positioning China and Russia as leaders over the diminishing U.S. space program.
Wang Ya’nan, editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, stated, “For one thing, China has, through a series of successful space missions, demonstrated an exceptionally high capability and reliability. This serves as a prerequisite for a good partnership, where richer samples and more ideal scientific results can be better achieved.” Wang further noted that China's inclusive approach to international cooperation is a stark contrast to the current geopolitical climate, where the U.S. often portrays China as a rival in space exploration.
The deal, negotiated between Russia and China in 2022, aims to bolster Russia’s strategic partnership with China and reassert Russia’s prominent role in space exploration. According to the bill, this collaboration is expected to enhance Russia’s strategic interests and contributions to lunar and outer space exploration.
Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, and China's National Space Administration (CNSA) have outlined a comprehensive plan for the joint lunar base. This includes establishing a surface base, an orbital station, and deploying several rovers to explore the lunar terrain. The agreement indicates that while China and Russia will lead the project, it remains open to contributions from other countries.
The roadmap from Roscosmos proposes a more accelerated timeline than China’s. It suggests selecting a location by 2025, beginning construction in 2026, and making the base operational by 2035.
Wang Ya’nan elaborated that Russia’s historical expertise in astrophysics and chemistry from the Soviet era would complement China’s advanced technology and robust industrial capabilities, creating a collaboration that "is greater than the sum of its parts."
Source: Breitbart
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