China confirms it will work with Russia to explore Moon

Wu Yanhua, deputy director of China’s National Space Administration, told a briefing in Beijing on Friday that the two countries aim to complete infrastructure construction for the lunar station by 2035. This includes systems for energy, communication and life support, Wu said.

China and Russia have also agreed to cooperate on the launch of Chang’e 7, a robotic lunar mission, around 2025, said Liu Jizhong, director of the administration’s China Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center.

The announcements are the latest sign of closer cooperation between the two countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to be one of the world’s most notable leaders in Beijing for the opening of the Winter Olympics next week.

By working together, China and Russia are joining a new race to the moon among the world’s space powers. The US has scheduled a major test of the Artemis program next month, an effort to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade.

Ye Peijian, chief designer of China’s first lunar probe, told state media that the country may be able to send astronauts to the Moon for the first time by 2030. Before that, China wants to send robotic missions to explore water distribution. The Moon’s pole, Liu said.

China’s most recent mission to the Moon was Chang’e 5, which returned to Earth last year with lunar samples. The rover, which landed on the far side of the moon in 2019, is still exploring the surface.

Officials said the joint program between China and Russia will also be open to global scientists. “We welcome the wide participation of international partners,” Wu said.