China’s plan for a research station on the moon gets closer with success of each Chang’e lunar mission

China has planned further missions, building towards international collaboration for a moon base

Lunar exploration programme chief designer says Chang’e-5 is performing well with systems and communications on track for a successful mission

2-MIN READ2-MIN

The Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-5 lunar probe, takes off from Wenchang Space Launch Centre, in Hainan province on November 24, 2020. The chief designer for the lunar programme has shared details of future Chang’e missions. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:05pm, 26 Nov 2020Updated: 8:05pm, 30 Nov 2020

China plans to establish a research base on the moon in the next few years after its Chang’e-5 probe was “in good condition” on its way to retrieve lunar samples, the programme’s chief scientist said.

A basic infrastructure network for a future moon base would consist of multiple probes on the surface as well as in the orbit of the moon, according to Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese lunar exploration programme.

“The basic facilities will be able to conduct lunar scientific research and resource development experiments,” Wu said on Thursday.

“We would like to work with international colleagues to construct a moon station.”

Chang’e-5 launched early on Tuesday morning and by Wednesday night had completed two orbital corrections during its 41-hour flight, having travelled 270,000km (167770.222 miles) from the Earth, Xinhua reported.

The programmed actions went as planned and all systems on Chang’e-5, as well as communications to the ground station, were in good condition, Xinhua said, showing positive signs for China’s third-phase of the lunar programme that aims to fetch 2kg (4.4 pounds) of moon rocks and return to Earth in the next three weeks.