At the opening of a two-day space conference in Tunxi, Anhui Province, on Thursday, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) signed a cooperation agreement with Senegal on the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Additionally, China's Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) formalized memoranda of understanding with 10 institutions from countries including Serbia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Panama, and South Africa.
Some of the organizations involved include the Belt and Road Alliance for Science and Technology, the Foundation for Space Development Africa, and the Africa Business Alliance.
First introduced in 2017, the CNSA's ILRS initiative has steadily gained international support. To date, over 40 global institutions have entered into cooperation agreements with China as part of the ILRS effort.
During his opening remarks at the conference, Wu Weiren, director and chief scientist of DSEL, emphasized that the ILRS is built on the principles of mutual consultation, shared construction, and collective benefits, fostering cooperation with global partners.
The ILRS aims to create a scientific facility comprising sections on the lunar surface, in orbit, and on Earth. The facility is designed to be scalable and maintainable, enabling long-term robotic operations with intermittent human involvement on the moon.
The project will unfold in two phases, with the first phase set to establish a basic operational model near the lunar south pole by 2035.
Wu Yanhua, chief designer of China's major deep space exploration project, provided further details about the facility's capabilities. The lunar station will include power generation, central command, communications, Earth-Moon transportation, exploration capabilities, and ground support. The base will be able to conduct scientific research within a range of hundreds of kilometers around the lunar south pole.
Wu Yanhua also extended an open invitation to countries around the world to join the program at various levels, including concept studies, equipment contributions, system integration, and mission-level participation.
To support these collaborative efforts, China plans to establish several organizations, including an international cooperation committee and a coordinating headquarters, to strengthen global partnerships.
Based on a Xinhua News Agency article
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