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The program, called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), is taking shape. This Chinese-Russian-led project aims to create lunar bases and a space station orbiting the Moon.
Credit: China National Space Administration
The initial stages of the project were announced in 2021. A robotic lunar base is planned for construction between 2030 and 2035. Five heavy rocket launches will be necessary to achieve this. On September 5, 2024, during a conference in China, new details were revealed. China clarified that the project will be executed in two distinct phases.
The first phase, expected to conclude around 2035, will focus on the Moon's south pole. Following that, an expanded version of the project will be developed by around 2050.
Wu Yanhua, the chief designer of China's space exploration, explained that the extended version will include several lunar bases connected to an orbital station around the Moon. Fast communication networks and lunar vehicles will also be deployed. To power these installations, the project will utilize solar, radioisotope, and nuclear energy sources. This development marks a major step forward for future manned missions, particularly towards Mars.
China continues to attract new partners as well. Senegal is the 13th country to join the ILRS project. Meanwhile, NASA is carrying on with its own program, Artemis, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon before the end of the decade.
Artemis and ILRS: a space rivalry?
The Artemis and ILRS programs represent a form of competition in the new race for lunar exploration. Both aim to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, albeit with different strategies and geopolitical alliances.
Artemis, led by NASA, enjoys the support of several Western countries and private partners, with the goal of bringing astronauts back to the Moon by 2026 and creating an orbital station, the Gateway. This program signals the return of the United States to lunar exploration, with a clear ambition to maintain their leadership in space exploration.
On the other side, the ILRS, spearheaded by China and Russia, also plans to establish a lunar base. Their plan includes building robotic lunar stations, powered by diverse energy sources, and creating an advanced lunar communication network.
Even though these two initiatives appear to be heading towards similar goals, they highlight a new form of rivalry in space, where each bloc seeks to assert its presence on the Moon. This competition could shape future norms and alliances in the exploration of the Solar System.