China Partners with Moon Village Association to Build International Lunar Research Lab
China’s Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Moon Village Association (MVA) to collaborate on building an international research lab on the moon, the DSEL announced on Friday.
DSEL Director Wu Weiren and MVA President Giuseppe Reibaldi signed the MOU on July 17. Reibaldi expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that the MVA is eager to work with China to promote the construction of the international lunar research station and related projects.
During the meeting, Wu Weiren, who is also the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, highlighted China’s achievements in lunar exploration and provided updates on plans for the international lunar research station.
Joining the meeting were Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu, member of the MVA’s advisory council and President of the Space Explorer Association, and MVA Vice President Jan Kolar, former head of the Czech Space Office. They shared insights about their organization and congratulated China on its advancements in deep space exploration.
Founded in Vienna, Austria, in 2017, the Moon Village Association is a non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations. Its mission is to foster international collaboration in lunar exploration and settlement.
Advancements in China’s Lunar Exploration
China has made significant strides in lunar exploration. In June, the Chang’e-6 mission successfully returned the first lunar samples from the far side of the moon, collected from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, marking a historic achievement in human space exploration.
Looking ahead, China plans to launch the Chang’e-7 mission in 2026, aiming to land a spacecraft at the moon’s south pole to search for evidence of water. The Chang’e-8 mission is scheduled for 2028, with the goal of establishing the foundational structure of an international lunar research station. This station will facilitate lunar environmental exploration and experiments in resource utilization.
China’s ambitious lunar program includes a manned lunar landing planned for 2030. By 2040, the nation aims to develop a fully equipped international lunar research station dedicated to exploring the sun-Earth-moon space environment and conducting scientific experiments. Beyond that, the construction of an “applied lunar research station” is envisioned, serving as a multifunctional lunar base.
Reference(s):
China signs MOU with Moon Village Association on moon research lab
cgtn.com
