The Chinese mainland's ambitious initiative to launch an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) is gaining momentum with the addition of new global partners. During the opening ceremony of a two-day space forum in Tunxi, east China's Anhui Province, the Chinese mainland's space agency signed several agreements to advance the ILRS project.
One significant partnership was formed with Senegal, as both space agencies committed to collaborating on the ILRS. Additionally, the Chinese mainland's Deep Space Exploration Lab has inked memoranda of understanding with 10 organizations from countries including Serbia, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Panama, and South Africa.
Since its proposal in 2017, the ILRS initiative has attracted widespread interest, with 17 countries and over 40 institutions already on board. The ILRS envisions a comprehensive lunar research facility featuring a lunar surface base, orbital stations, and Earth-based components, designed for long-term autonomous operation with the potential for short-term human presence. This project aims to be both expandable and sustainable, paving the way for future innovations in space exploration. 🌌✨
