China speeds up moon base plan in space race against the US
- The new aim of the Chang’e 8 moon landing mission is to set up a lunar research station by around 2027, space authority deputy director says
- Concerns over US Artemis Accords programme may be behind uncharacteristic rush from the Chinese side, scientists behind project say
China will set up a research base on the moon by around 2027, eight years earlier than previously scheduled.
China’s Chang’e 8 moon landing mission originally aimed to carry out scientific experiments such as 3D printing of lunar dust, which would follow two more launches in the next few years.
But Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the China National Space Administration, said the Chang’e 8’s new job was to put an unmanned research station on the surface of the moon, previously scheduled for 2035.
Wu did not give details on the reason behind the change of plan, but stressed that the purpose of the mission was to “build a solid foundation for the peaceful use of lunar resources”.
For years, China’s moon programme has progressed steadily and at its own pace, with Chinese space authorities saying repeatedly that they were not interested in a race like that during the US-Soviet Cold War.