China to build scientific exploration base on the south pole of the Moon

China has approved the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program, which includes the construction over the next decade of a scientific exploration base at the south pole of the moon.

According to the state broadcaster CGTN, the National Space Administration of China (CNSA) announced that the Asian country will continue its lunar exploration program with the future missions Chang’e 6, Chang’e 7 and Chang’e 8, the outlet explained.

China will not undertake the construction of the base alone: ​​”We will work with Russia to build the bases of the lunar exploration station, which will lay a solid foundation for investigating the lunar resources and environment,” the deputy director of the CNSA told the media. locals in a recent interview.

After signing the cooperation agreement with Russia last March, the chief designer of the lunar exploration program, Wu Weiren, stated that “if the lunar research station project can be successfully implemented, China will not be far from achieving a manned landing on the moon ”.

Building a base at the south pole of the Moon would have the advantage that the solar panels that would supply power to the station would enjoy more hours of sunshine than elsewhere on the satellite.

Right now, part of the Chang’e 4 mission is on the lunar surface.

The Yutu 2 vehicle, which is currently in operation, reached the moon aboard the unmanned probe Chang’e-4 in 2019, when it became the first spacecraft to land on the far side of the satellite.

Chinese experts predicted shortly after the launch of the Chang’e-4 that there would be “surprising discoveries” on the far side of the Moon, in which “deeply hidden information” could be revealed.

The Chang’e program (named after a goddess who according to Chinese legends lives on the Moon) began with the launch of a first probe in 2007.

The ultimate goal of this program is a manned mission to the Luna.