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China aims for crewed Moon mission by 2030, construct Moon Base by 2035

China's space ambitions include lunar missions (Chang'e 7 in 2026, Chang'e 8 in 2028), a crewed Moon landing by 2030, and the constructing the International Lunar Research Station, a Moon Base by 2035. Planetary exploration missions include the Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission launching later in the month, the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return in 2028, and the Tianwen-4 mission to explore the Ice Moons of Jupiter as well as the ice giants and beyond by 2030.

New Delhi: At the second day of the 12th edition of the Global Space Exploration (GLEX 2025) Summit at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, Director of the International Cooperation Centre of China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), Zhongmin Wang laid out detailed plans for future Chinese missions in space. China is planning programmes for lunar, planetary and asteroid exploration. China is returning to the Moon with the Chang’e 7 mission in 2026 to prospect for water, followed up by the Chang’e 8 mission in 2028 to set up a lunar communication network and reliably supply energy. Both the missions are headed to the south pole of the Moon.

China announces new partners for International Lunar Research Station - Chinadaily.com.cn

Illustration of the ILRS. (Image Credit: VCG).

China aims to land a crewed mission on the lunar surface by 2030. The campaign consists of three missions, two of which will be orbital, followed by a crewed soft landing. China then plans to construct the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) between 2030 and 2035, with energy supply, a communication and navigation satellite constellation, Earth to Moon transportation infrastructure, and a centrally controlled Moon Base to enable research on the lunar surface. Russia is a close collaborator on the ILRS, and China is working closely with a number of countries. While Chinese scientists participate in a number of global scientific collaborations, the ILRS is the first global scientific and engineering project where China is taking the lead.

International Collaborations

China is aggressively pursuing international partners for its ILRS, and hopes to work with at least 5,000 scientists from 5,00 institutions across 50 countries. The Chang’e series of Moon landers have dedicated payload slots for international partners. Payloads from Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Italy, France, the European Space Agency and Pakistan have already piggybacked to the Moon on Chinese Chang’e missions. The Chang’e 7 and 8 missions have around 300 kg of payload mass reserved for international payloads, and will contain payloads from Europe, Bahrain, Thailand, Egypt, and from the United States as well. Scientists from around the world can apply to study the samples returned by Chang’e 5, with the samples collected by the Chang’e 6 mission being made available next year.

Check out the links below for more of our GLEX 2025 coverage:

GLEX 2025: India to collaborate with global partners as ‘Vishwa Bandhu Bharat’

Axiom Chief Astronaut Michael LA: US, Russia are getting along in space

European rover to look for signs of life on Mars

ISRO is building Bharatiya Antariksh Station to benefit all humans

Japan’s pressurised Moon rover can operate for ten years

PM Modi at GLEX 2025: ‘India’s space journey is not about racing others’

China invites India to participate in International Lunar Research Station at GLEX 2025

ESA Director reacts to NASA’s ‘skinny’ budget

Virgin Galactic’s Sirisha Bandla highlights value of public-private space partnerships at GLEX 2025

Low Earth Orbit is becoming an economic zone

GLEX 2025: ISRO, AFI lead global space talks with 1,800 attendees from 36 Countries

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Aditya Madanapalle

Aditya has studied journalism, multimedia technologies and ᚨᚾᚲᛁᛖᚾᛏ ᚱᚢᚾᛖᛋ. He has over 10 years experience as a science and technology reporter, with a focus on space, AI, videogames, cybsersecurity and fundamental research. He is usually found playing with age inappropriate LEGO sets or sedentary games both new and old.

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