With ambitions to consolidate as a main actor in space exploration, the Asian country seeks to send astronauts to the natural satellite before the end of the decade.
China analyzes the possibility of building a nuclear power plant on the surface of the moonwith the objective of supply energy to the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), an initiative that develops in collaboration with Russia. This was confirmed by an official of the Chinese space program during a presentation held on Wednesday.
With ambitions to consolidate as the main actor in space exploration, China Seek to send astronauts to the natural satellite before the end of the decade. Your mission Chang’e-8scheduled for 2028, aims to establish the necessary conditions for the creation of a stable lunar base.
During an exhibition in Shanghai, Pei Zhaoyu, Chief engineer of the aforementioned mission, explained that the energy infrastructure of the future station could include both large -scale solar matrices and energy distribution systems through pipes and cables installed on the lunar surface.
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China evaluates installing a nuclear plant on the moon to supply its future international base
In parallel, Roscosmos (the space agency of Russia) reported in 2023 that he is working together with China in the development of a nuclear reactor that would be operational on the moon by 2035, in order to supply the ILRS. Although Beijing It has not issued official statements in this regard, the mention of the project by a Chinese official against representatives of the 17 countries and organizations that make up the ILRS reinforces the idea that China Actively support the plan.
The lunar exploration schedule of China Align with the Artemis program of the POTwhich foresees a new American manned manner towards the end of 2025. Both initiatives point to the southern pole of the Moona region with potentially useful resources such as water ice.
Wu Weirenchief designer of the Chinese lunar program and member of the Chinese Engineering Academyhe said that it is expected to have an initial version of the lunar station ready by 2035.
The different program launches Chang’e They are part of the progressive development of this station, and as a future step, China plans to launch the so -called “Project 555”, with which it hopes to integrate 50 countries, 500 international scientific institutions and 5,000 researchers from abroad to the Ilrs initiative.
Source: Ambito
