Having achieved fruitful results and significant breakthroughs through international collaboration during the Chang'e-6 mission, China aims to deepen its cooperation with global partners for future space exploration in innovative ways.
As a historic milestone, the Chang'e-6 returner successfully delivered 1,935.3 grams of lunar soil from the far side of the moon on June 25, 2024. This marks the first time humanity has collected materials from this unexplored region, generating significant excitement in the scientific community eager to study these unique samples for a deeper understanding of the moon.
According to the experts involved in the Chang'e-6 mission, lunar samples from the mission will soon be available for research applications, exemplifying China's commitment to international collaboration in space exploration.
This initiative aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping's call on the space industry to enhance international exchanges and cooperation in various forms to make scientific and technological achievements in the industry more beneficial to mankind.
"The General Secretary also highlighted that international cooperation on the Chang'e-6 mission is what makes us stand out. This successful collaboration also paves the way for future cooperation in lunar exploration. Through this partnership, we and those participating countries and institutions have enhanced mutual understanding," said Hu Hao, chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission.
While the Chang'e-6 lunar probe carried four international payloads developed jointly by Chinese and foreign scientists, the upcoming Chang'e-7 mission, scheduled for around 2026, is expected to carry six international payloads. Furthermore, the Chang'e-8 mission, which is planned to be launched around 2028, will provide a capacity of 200 kilograms for international payloads.
China's commitment to collaboration extends beyond the Chang'e missions. The country has invited international partners, particularly developing countries without their own space missions, to participate in the construction of the International Lunar Research Station, a scientific experimental facility designed to be an expandable and maintainable system capable of long-term robotic operation with short-term human participation on the moon.
"For many future missions, we will collaborate with international partners from the design phase of major tasks. For instance, we will take this approach in establishing the International Lunar Research Station, which will be designed and constructed collaboratively, with benefits shared by all," said Bian Zhigang, deputy head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
China to further enhance international space cooperation
China to further enhance international space cooperation
