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| A notional illustration of a Chinese moon base. |
According to a top Chinese lunar scientist, China will undoubtedly land on the moon within the next seven years.”By 2030, the Chinese will undoubtedly be able to set foot on the moon.” That is not an issue,” Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, said to Chinese broadcaster CCTV on April 18, ahead of the country’s national “space day” on April 24.
China is already developing the hardware required to land men on the moon. The country is working on a next-generation rocket to launch an enhanced crew spaceship, and a lunar lander is in the works. The new rocket will be tested in 2027, and the new spaceship has already flown an uncrewed voyage.
Wu Yansheng, chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the country’s principal space contractor, earlier this year presented an animated sequence depicting a future Chinese crewed lunar landing.
The mission mentioned by Wu Weiren would allow for a brief stay on the lunar surface. However, China is also planning to create a permanent base known as the International Lunar Research Station in the 2030s.
The ambitious project’s first steps include robotic journeys to the lunar south pole to explore the use of 3D printing technology to build Lego-like bricks from lunar soil.
“Questions such as whether we can build a house, make bricks, and access communication services on the moon are expected to be verified by Chang’e 8 experiments, which will provide a guarantee for large-scale lunar scientific exploration in the future,” Wu said, referring to a robotic mission set to launch in 2028.
China is looking for partners for the venture, just as the US is looking for backing for its Artemis program.
“China’s International Lunar Research Station is now open to international partners.” We welcome developed countries such as the United States and Europe to participate. “We also hope that the BRICS countries and some African developing countries will join us,” Wu said. (BRICS is an acronym that stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.)
“We have put forward an initiative for all to sign contracts, deals, or strategic agreements of intent.”
