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Beijing and Moscow to develop experimental research facilities on the surface of the Moon and its orbit.
Russia and China have unveiled plans for a joint lunar space station as Moscow seeks to reclaim the glory of its pioneering era in Soviet-era space, and Beijing braces for its own extraterrestrial ambitions.
Although Russia was once at the forefront of space travel – it sent the first man into space – its cosmic ambitions have faded thanks to poor funding and rampant corruption.
It has been eclipsed by China and the United States, both of which have achieved significant success in space exploration and research in recent years.
Russian space agency Roscomos said in a statement Tuesday that it had signed an agreement with the Chinese Space Administration (CNSA) to develop a “complex of experimental research facilities created on the surface and / or in the orbit of the Moon “.
CNSA, for its part, said the project was “open to all interested countries and international partners” in what experts said was China’s largest international space cooperation project to date.
Russia is seeking to regain the lead in the space race.
This year it celebrates the 60th anniversary of Russia’s very first manned space flight – he sent Yuri Gagarin into space in 1961, followed by the first woman, Valentina Tereshkova, two years later.
In contrast, the US space agency NASA did not send its first manned flight into space until 1968.
But Moscow has lagged behind both Washington and Beijing in exploring the Moon and Mars in recent years.
Meanwhile, China – which has sought a closer partnership with Moscow – has launched its own successful space program.
‘A big deal’
Last year, Beijing launched its Tianwen-1 probe to Mars, which is currently orbiting the Red Planet.
And in December, he managed to bring rock and soil samples from the moon back to Earth, the first such mission in over 40 years.
Chen Lan, an independent analyst specializing in the Chinese space program, said the joint lunar space station was “a big deal.”
“This will be the biggest international space cooperation project for China, so it’s important,” Lan said.
Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin wrote on Twitter that he invited CNSA chief Zhang Kejian to the launch of Russia’s first modern lunar lander, Luna 25, scheduled for October 1 – the first lunar lander launched by the Russia since 1976.
Eyes on Mars
NASA has now set its sights on Mars with its Perseverance rovers last week, performing their first test drive on the planet. NASA ultimately intends to conduct a possible human mission to the planet, although planning is still at a preliminary stage.
Moscow and Washington are also collaborating in the space sector – one of the few areas of cooperation between Cold War rivals.
However, Russia did not sign the US-led Artemis Agreement last year for countries wishing to participate in a NASA-led lunar exploration program.
As part of the Artemis program announced under former US President Donald Trump, NASA plans to land the first woman and next man on the moon by 2024.
In another blow to Russia’s space reputation, Roscosmos lost its monopoly on manned flights to the International Space Station (ISS) last year after the first successful mission by US company Space X.
Elon Musks’ Space X has become a key player in the modern space race, and has announced plans to fly several members of the public to the Moon in 2023 on a trip funded by a Japanese millionaire.
Space X in March also landed a prototype rocket on Mars, but it exploded on the landing pad.
Chinese mission Tianwen-1 takes off from Wenchang space launch center in July [Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters]
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