China completes first teaching practice base for simulated moon underground space

China has officially completed its first teaching and practice base for the "simulated moon underground space" program by the Jingbo Lake in Mudanjiang City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Wednesday.

The latest scientific research indicates that there are considerable lava pipe systems distributed beneath the surfaces of the Moon and Mars. These underground spaces form a sharp contrast with the extremely harsh lunar surface environment. They not only provide a natural barrier for cosmic rays but also have significant strategic value due to the special attributes of their underground spaces.

For further research, Peking University, in collaboration with seven other universities in China, has established the country's first "simulated moon underground space" teaching and practice base in a volcanic lava cave of the Jingbo Lake, to conduct a series of forward-looking and innovative research closely related to deep space exploration.

"The underground volcanic lava pipes by the Jingbo Lake are the most similar environment on Earth to the underground space of the moon. I hope our forward-looking research can serve China's lunar exploration program," said Li Jiaqi, a researcher of Peking University.

Inside the lava cave, two robots are conducting autonomous exploration and multi-functional operations for the "simulated moon underground space".

"Compared with traditional lunar roving vehicles and exploration robots, it has stronger environmental adaptability and flexibility. When exploring the underground space of the moon for the future, it can possess more precise perception, decision-making and operation capabilities," said Li Xianglong, a doctoral student of Harbin Institute of Technology.

Outside the cave, on the open ground, college students were seen working in collaboration to set up seismometers.

"The data we collected from deploying seismometer this time will serve as a reference for our future deployment of seismometers on the moon," said Kang Yi, an undergraduate student of the School of Earth and Space Sciences of Peking University.

China completes first teaching practice base for simulated moon underground space

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday called for efforts to coordinate and optimize the spatial layouts of agricultural, ecological and urban spaces, and further improve the country's functional zoning system.

Li made the remarks while presiding over a State Council group study session on strengthening the implementation of the functional zoning strategy and promoting coordinated regional development.

These efforts should promote the formation of a new pattern for the development and protection of territorial space featuring clearly defined functions, complementary strengths and high-quality development, providing strong support for promoting coordinated regional development and optimizing the layout of major productive forces, said Li.

Li said efforts should be made to optimize functional zoning and make spatial governance more targeted and refined, while improving the policy and institutional system suited to functional zoning to guide different regions in pursuing differentiated and coordinated development.

Stressing that the coordinated regional development strategy, major regional strategies and the new urbanization strategy are all major strategies based on territorial space, Li called for efforts to promote the coordinated implementation and integration of the functional zoning strategy with other major national strategies.

Li also stressed the need to improve implementation mechanism for the functional zoning strategy, strengthen coordination among departments and localities, improve supporting systems, enhance policy integration, and form greater synergy in this work.

At the session, Fan Jie, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave a lecture. Vice Premiers He Lifeng and Liu Guozhong and State Councilor Shen Yiqin also delivered speeches.

Chinese premier calls for strengthening implementation of functional zoning strategy