China expands its lunar research program with more African members

China expands its lunar research program with more African members during the 2024 FOCAC Summit.

In recent developments to enhance South-South cooperation in aerospace, China and Africa have agreed to strengthen their partnership in deep-space exploration during the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). On Thursday, Senegal and several African institutions joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program, expanding the initiative to over 10 countries and more than 40 international organizations globally.

Li Guoping, chief engineer of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), signed a cooperation agreement with Maram Kaïré, Director General of the Senegalese Space Studies Agency, at the 2nd International Conference on Deep Space Exploration.

Besides Senegal, CNSA also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with 10 international organizations from countries such as Serbia, Switzerland, the UAE, Panama, Indonesia, Pakistan, and South Africa, as well as with the Belt and Road Alliance for Science & Technology, the Foundation for Space Development Africa, and the Africa Business Alliance.

The new additions to the ILRS program follow China’s 2017 call for international collaboration. Current partners include Venezuela, Belarus, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Egypt, Nicaragua, Thailand, Serbia, and Kazakhstan, joining China and Russia.

Wu Yanhua, chief designer of China’s major deep-space exploration projects, proposed six key cooperation initiatives for the ILRS at the event. These initiatives include joint demonstrations, mission-level collaboration, system development, ground facilities, scientific research, and education. China plans to establish an international cooperation committee and headquarters to support these efforts.

The ILRS will be a scientific experimental facility comprising lunar surface modules, lunar orbit sections, and Earth-based components. It is intended to be a long-term, autonomous, and expandable research station that supports short-duration human missions.

Wu highlighted that the lunar facility will offer a range of functionalities, such as power supply, central command, communication and navigation, Earth-Moon transportation, lunar exploration, and ground support.

China aims to launch three Chang’e lunar probe missions within the next four years, with plans to complete the basic version of the ILRS by 2035. This initial version will focus on the lunar south pole and will feature comprehensive scientific facilities for regular experiments.

By 2045, an expanded version of the ILRS will be completed, with a lunar orbit station serving as the hub. This version will include fully equipped facilities for extensive scientific research, resource development, and technical verification related to potential manned missions to Mars.