China aims to construct a Moon research station as part of its space program, and welcomes international participants to join the course, said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's Lunar Exploration Program.
China has previously announced plans for a manned mission to the Moon to take place before 2030, and the preparations are progressing smoothly, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Wednesday.
Beyond the Moon landing, Wu shared prospects of China's lunar exploration featuring the construction of a Moon research station with comprehensive facilities and international participation.
"We hope that on the basis of Phase Four of our lunar exploration program, there will be a large international scientific-technological research project initiated by China, with the participation of multiple countries. So far, there has been very smooth progress in initiating this project, which is intended to build a research station at the lunar South Pole. This research station will be capable of automatically supplying power for itself and making telecommunications available on site. Centered around the lunar South Pole, it will cover both the lunar surface and the lunar orbit, and can extend to farther locations. For example, the research station will be equipped with multiple systems including lunar rovers, landers, hoppers, and networks. Once assembled, we will be able to conduct long-term unmanned exploration there, as well as accommodate short-term human presence," Wu said.
With comprehensive facilities, the station is expected to facilitate in-space scientific research and explorations and serve as a major base for further investigations into deep space.
"This will be a facility with sufficient power supply, complete communications infrastructure, and various experimental equipment, capable of conducting long-term, multi-disciplinary scientific exploration. For instance, we can use it to conduct research on lunar resources and the Moon's origins, and conduct Moon-based scientific explorations including lunar-based astronomical observations. We can also use the Moon as an important base to extend a series of scientific explorations and technological experiments toward the Earth," Wu said.
"Of course, I believe that ultimately the construction of our lunar research station should serve our future Mars missions, conducting a series of technological experiments and scientific verifications for Mars exploration, and laying the foundation for it. I believe this is a very important goal for us," Wu said.
China welcomes international cooperation in lunar exploration: chief designer
