Weeks after threatening to withdraw from the International Space Station (ISS), Russia has joined hands with China to develop a Joint International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The two countries are now looking for collaboration from other nations for long-term, autonomous and comprehensive scientific experiment base on the lunar surface.

As the two countries unveiled their plans for a lunar base on the Moon, the agreement was first signed in March. The plan involves building research facilities both on the Moon and in orbit.

According to the roadmap, the stations will first operate autonomously before they are habituated by crewed missions in the future. While preliminary exploratory missions are likely to begin by the end of this year, construction for the lunar base will begin as early as 2025.The new plan is set to tighten an already competitive race to the Moon.

A base on Moon’s South Pole

Explaining the intricacies and logistics of the program, Wu Yanhua, deputy head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said, “China and Russia welcome international partners to participate in the ILRS programme at all stages and all levels of each stage.” Addressing an online press conference, the deputy head said that while the first phase begins from the year, the second phase of operations will be conducted between 2026 to 2035 and the final phase will start from 2036.ADVERTISEMENT

While engineers are undecided on the final location of the lunar base, initial studies put the Amundsen crater on the South Pole as a potential site. The location runs parallel to the US Artemis mission, which is also targeting the lunar south pole for its return to the Moon.

A tightening race to the Moon

The new plan is set to tighten an already competitive race to the Moon which has several countries vying for dominance. The moon could offer the next site for possible rare earth metals that can be harnessed to develop new technologies and push for further exploration of Mars and beyond.According to the roadmap, the stations will first operate autonomously. (Photo: ESA)

“The Chinese are making good progress. Their space program is well-funded. They have made considerable progress technologically. At first, they replicated Soviet technologies, but now they have moved much further,” CGTN quoted CEO of Russia’s Roscosmos corporation, Dmitry Rogozin, as saying.

India, China, the US, Russia are all in some stage of development for several lunar missions that aim to explore the massive landmass hanging in the vacuum.