A total of 17 countries and international organizations, as well as over 50 international research institutions have joined an International Lunar Research Station Program initiated by China, said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program said at the Space Day of China celebrations in Shanghai.
According to Wu, China's exploration program has maintained a 100-percent mission success rate over the past two decades and is now advancing to its fourth phase.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Wu introduced plans and expectations on international cooperation on lunar exploration.
"We currently recognize several key areas of international cooperation. The first is at the technical level -- but what does that mean? It means working together to develop and implement shared plans. Technological breakthroughs are essential, particularly to tackle the harsh conditions of the lunar South Pole, including challenges related to lighting, power supply, and extreme temperature variations. These obstacles must be overcome collaboratively. Technical implementation also includes ground-based operations such as tracking, surveying, control, and communication. For instance, we are already working with the European Space Agency and countries in South America like Argentina. Looking ahead, I expect more emerging nations to join us in these cooperative efforts," Wu said.
"The second aspect is cooperation on scientific instruments. What will we do on the Moon? The focus is primarily on scientific exploration using instrument payloads. We welcome more countries to collaborate with China in this endeavor. Joint research is encouraged, but for those who prefer to conduct independent studies, China is also willing to assist in delivering their instruments to the lunar surface," Wu added.
"The third aspect is scientific data. Once obtained, this data will be analyzed collaboratively or shared with participating countries for joint research, aiming to achieve groundbreaking scientific discoveries of global significance. Scientific and technological advancement remains the primary goal of our lunar exploration efforts," Wu said.
"The fourth aspect, in my view, is collaboration at the ground headquarters. Located in China, the headquarters welcomes scientists from around the world for academic exchange. We share common goals and a collective determination to achieve outcomes of global significance," Wu said.
Int'l experts join China-led international lunar research station program: chief designer
