Wu Yanhua, chief designer of China's Deep Space Exploration Major Project, gave a clear and detailed plan for deep space exploration Tuesday.
Wu said China will launch the Queqiao-2 relay satellite and the Chang'e-6 probe in 2024 to retrieve lunar sample, it will launch Chang'e-7 around 2026 for lunar south pole resource exploration, and launch Chang'e-8 around 2028 to construct the international lunar research station's basic model, along with Chang'e-7.
Wu also said China plans to launch the Tianwen-2 probe around 2025.
He said China's international cooperation will include the International Lunar Research Station, the China Gulf Arab Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Center, and the International Deep Space Exploration Federation.
Wu Weiren, Chief Designer for China's Lunar Exploration Program, gave the clearest outline yet for the International Lunar Research Station.
He said the International Lunar Research Station would be jointly built by China and multiple countries. It would be a comprehensive scientific experimental facility that will operate autonomously for a long time on the moon's surface and orbit, with short-term human participation. It would be expandable, maintainable, with five basic infrastructure facilities.
SUN YE Hefei "Wu also said the full model for ILRS would complete by around 2040. After that the station would further upgrade to a 'practical and multi-functional' lunar base."
China National Space Administration and the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization also signed a joint statement on cooperation in the International Lunar Research Station Tuesday.
Sun Ye, CGTN, Hefei.
