When will the lunar research station be built? When will the Chinese land on the moon? Revealed →

On November 21, the United Nations/China Space Exploration and Innovation Global Partnership Seminar officially opened in Hainan. Where will my country's deep space exploration go in the future? When will the lunar research station be built? What will it look like? CCTV News Headquarters reporter interviewed Academician Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration project, to hear his answers↓

What stage has my country’s lunar exploration project reached?

Academician Wu Weiren introduced that my country's lunar exploration project started in 2004, and the original plan of orbiting the moon, landing on the moon, and returning samples has now been basically completed. Chang'e 6 has been included in the fourth phase of the project, and will be linked with Chang'e 7, Chang'e 8, and the construction of a scientific research station. The first three steps have been completed, and the fourth phase of the project will be implemented next. There may be a fifth and sixth phase of the project in the future.

What does a lunar research station look like?

Academician Wu Weiren said that we will first build a basic model of an international scientific research station, and then expand it into an international lunar scientific research station. Its main components include:

Land safely;

There are walking lunar rovers. Chang'e 3 and Chang'e 4 have both released lunar rovers, but they are very small. Future rovers will be larger and can accommodate passengers.

There is energy supply. For example, a new energy system is being developed. If nuclear energy is used in it, it can solve the energy problem at high power for a long time.

There are communication facilities, with websites and base stations that can realize communication with the ground, such as communication with Mars or other planets, and there must be facilities for relaying communications.

Why was the lunar research station located at the South Pole of the Moon?

According to reports, my country is the first country to propose setting up a scientific research station at the South Pole of the Moon. Astronomers speculate that the South Pole of the Moon may have more than 180 consecutive days of polar day, so there is at least sunlight and the temperature should be around -80℃ to -100℃, which ensures that people and machines can survive for a long time, so the South Pole was chosen.

Where will deep space exploration go in the next decade?

Academician Wu Weiren introduced that my country's deep space exploration plan for the next 10-15 years is mainly divided into four parts: one is lunar exploration; two is asteroid exploration or impact; three is planetary exploration; and four is launching heavy-lift launch vehicles to increase the thrust of existing rockets by about 4 times, in preparation for manned landings on Mars and the moon, as well as large-scale transportation in near-Earth space.

When can Chinese astronauts land on the moon?

Academician Wu Weiren introduced that the basic model of the lunar scientific research station will be completed before the manned lunar landing. It is expected that the basic model of the lunar scientific research station can be built around 2028, and Chinese astronauts are expected to land on the moon within ten years. By then, the moon will become our frontier base for deep space exploration, and we can transit on the moon when flying to Mars and other planets.

Source: CCTV News