China has reached cooperation agreements with 17 countries and international organizations for the joint building of the international lunar research station (ILRS), and the project will be implemented in two phases, an official with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, Reuters reports.
The CNSA launched the ILRS cooperation initiative globally in 2017, aiming to build a basic model by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, and to establish a lunar research station connecting the moon’s south pole, equator, and far side by 2050.
Currently in the feasibility study phase, the ILRS project is set to follow a strategic approach encompassing overall planning, incremental implementation, and simultaneous construction and utilization across two distinct phases, according to Yang Xiaoyu, director of the System Engineering Department of the CNSA.
“The first phase, the basic configuration phase, will focus on establishing a comprehensive lunar-based research platform with essential functions and elements. This phase will enable regular scientific experiments and verification of resource utilization technologies. The second phase, the expansion phase, aims to create a large-scale, stable, and fully functional lunar research platform capable of carrying out long-term unmanned operations, allowing short-term human presence, and conducting comprehensive lunar surface scientific research, resource development, and technology verification,” said Yang.
Furthermore, Yang emphasized the substantial advancements in international partnership concerning the ILRS project.
“The ILRS has already achieved significant progress in international collaboration, with many countries and international organizations expressing their interest in participation. We have signed cooperation agreements with 17 countries and international organizations and are prepared to offer various collaborative opportunities to international partners. We will engage in extensive cooperation with our partners on joint feasibility studies, joint design of the ILRS, technical collaboration, overall mission planning and implementation, and scientific data sharing,” said Yang.
