China’s Lunar Ambitions Take Center Stage at Global Space Congress

The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) has blasted off in Baku, Azerbaijan, with lunar exploration stealing the spotlight! CGTN reporter Wu Lei moderated a high-profile forum featuring top experts discussing moon missions – and all eyes are on China’s groundbreaking International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project.

Described as a “space-age science hub,” the ILRS aims to create a sustainable lunar base for long-term research and short-term crewed missions. Think: interstellar energy systems, next-gen navigation tech, and experiments that sound straight out of a sci-fi movie! The China-led initiative, developed with multiple countries, could revolutionize how we study space geology, test new tech, and even harness lunar resources.

One forum participant teased: “This isn’t just about planting flags – it’s about building infrastructure for generations of explorers.” With autonomous operations planned for both the moon’s surface and orbit, the ILRS might soon make “lunar Airbnb” a trending hashtag!

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Live: The International Astronuatical Congress kicks off in Azerbaijan

cgtn.com