International Lunar Research Station#Phase 2: Construction (2026–2035)

On 9 March 2021, China and Russia signed a “Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation Regarding Cooperation for the Construction of the International Lunar Research Station.”{{Cite web |author=Pollpeter |first=Kevin |display-authors=etal |title=China-Russia Space Cooperation |url=https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Space/2023-05-08%20China%20Russia%20Space%20Cooperation.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240111095944/https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/Space/2023-05-08%20China%20Russia%20Space%20Cooperation.pdf |archive-date=2024-01-11 |access-date=2024-01-11 |publisher=Air Education and Training Command, United States Air Force}} On 16 June 2021, Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) held a joint session in St. Petersburg, Russia, on the auspices of the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2021), dedicated to the presentation of the Roadmap for the creation of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The session was attended by Sergei Saveliev, the Deputy Director General of Roscosmos for International Cooperation and Wu Yanhua, the Vice Administrator of CNSA (remotely).{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Roscosmos and CNSA representatives held consultations on a draft declaration in September 2021, together with experts from Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Thailand and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. The talks took place behind closed doors.{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/science/1343047|title=Russia, China to present lunar station declaration at congress in Dubai late Oct|website=TASS|access-date=2021-09-28|archive-date=2023-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008214704/https://tass.com/science/1343047|url-status=live}}

In June 2023, two more countries joined the International Lunar Research Station project, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, as well as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO).{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In July 2023, China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Swiss company Nano-SPACE for Cooperation on the International Lunar Research Station project.{{Cite web|url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/nJE1DbhJgeeDRyd8mX7k_w|title=Deep Space Exploration Laboratory and Swiss company Nano-SPACE signed a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation of the International Lunar Research Station|website=weixin|access-date=2023-07-02|archive-date=2023-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230703010325/https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/nJE1DbhJgeeDRyd8mX7k_w|url-status=live}} On the same day, a letter of intent was also signed with the Hawaii-based, non-profit International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA Hawai'i) (which already participated in the Chang'e-3 lander mission) for cooperation on the ILRS initiative, despite earlier restrictions by U.S. Congress limiting American collaboration with the China National Space Administration.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} ILRS's lab director Wu Weiren also led in-depth talks with officials from France's Thales Group, which considers the possibility for future cooperation with the Chinese space agency.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-07 |title=Western companies drawn to China's lunar research station project |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3226845/western-companies-drawn-chinas-lunar-research-station-project |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}

On July 17, 2023, Venezuela formally joined the ILRS initiative, with its Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities signing an agreement with China's CNSA which, among other things, provided China access to Venezuelan ground stations in support of ILRS missions.{{Cite web |title=Venezuela joins Russian-Chinese lunar station project |url=https://tass.com/science/1648671 |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=TASS}}

On September 1, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Humbulani Mudau, CEO of SANSA (the South African National Space Agency), and Chen Xiaodong, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, acting on behalf of CNSA. The agreement will reportedly see CNSA and SANSA carry out extensive cooperation in the demonstration, implementation, operation and application of the ILRS, as well as training and other areas.{{Cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/south-africa-joins-chinas-moon-base-project/|title=South Africa joins China's moon base project|website=Space News|date=7 September 2023|access-date=2023-09-07|archive-date=2024-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411233657/https://spacenews.com/south-africa-joins-chinas-moon-base-project/|url-status=live}}

On October 3, 2023, an agreement was signed between China's CNSA and Azerbaijan's Azercosmos regarding the latter's entry into the International Lunar Research Station Program. Azercosmos director Samaddin Asadov signed the agreement at the 74th International Astronautical Conference, held in Baku.

In April 2024, Thailand and Turkey applied to join the ILRS.{{cite web|title=Thailand joins China-led ILRS moon base initiative|url=https://spacenews.com/thailand-joins-china-led-ilrs-moon-base-initiative/|website=Space.com|access-date=12 April 2024|date=5 April 2024}}{{Cite news |last=Ling |first=Xin |date=11 April 2024 |title=Nato member Turkey seeks to join China-Russia moon project instead of US-led Artemis programme: reports |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3258624/nato-member-turkey-seeks-join-china-russia-moon-project-instead-us-led-artemis-programme-reports |access-date=11 April 2024 |work=South China Morning Post |archive-date=11 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411070736/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3258624/nato-member-turkey-seeks-join-china-russia-moon-project-instead-us-led-artemis-programme-reports |url-status=live }} Thailand has since joined, but Turkey has not yet officially become a signatory.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Andrew |title=China wants 50 countries involved in its ILRS moon base |date=23 July 2024 |url=https://spacenews.com/china-wants-50-countries-involved-in-its-ilrs-moon-base/ |access-date=30 October 2024}}

Computer generated renders of the base were first widely shared in April 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=First Look at China's Plans for a Future Moon Base and City |url=https://www.techeblog.com/china-moon-base-city-ilrs-project/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=TechEBlog |language=en-US}}

In May 2024, it was reported that Russia was considering plans to incorporate nuclear energy towards powering the station.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Brendan Cole Senior News |date=2024-05-08 |title=Russia reveals new China nuclear moon base details |url=https://www.newsweek.com/russia-china-moon-lunar-base-1898220 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}

In June 2024, Russia's cooperation was codified into law.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-12 |title=Ratification of the Russia-China intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in establishing the International Lunar Research Station|url=http://en.kremlin.ru/acts/news/74254 |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=Kremlin |language=en}}

ILRS is a complex experimental research facility to be constructed with a possible attraction of partners on the surface and/or in the orbit of the Moon designed for multi-discipline and multi-purpose scientific research activities, including exploration and use of the Moon, Moon-based observation, fundamental research experiments, and technology verification with the capability of long-term uncrewed operation with the prospect of subsequent human presence.{{Cite book |url=https://www.roscosmos.ru/media/files/mnls.pdf |title=International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) Guide for Partnership |date=17 June 2021 |publisher=CNSA & Roscosmos |edition=1.0 |access-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220822205424/https://www.roscosmos.ru/media/files/mnls.pdf |archive-date=22 August 2022 |url-status=dead}}

• Lunar topography, geomorphology, and geological structure
• Lunar Physics and internal structure
• Lunar Chemistry (materials and geoarchaeology)
• Cis-Lunar space environment
• Lunar-based astronomical observation
• Lunar based Earth observation
• Lunar-based biological and medical experiment
• Lunar Resource in-situ utilization

• Cislunar Transportation Facility – supporting round-trip transfers between the Earth and the Moon, including lunar descent, landing, ascent, and return to Earth.
• Long-term Support Facility on Lunar Surface – to consist of various support modules for operations on the lunar surface.
• Lunar Transportation and Operation Facility – to consist of modules for lunar exploration and cargo transportation.
• Lunar Scientific Facility – to support in-orbit and surface experiments
• Ground Support and Application Facility – data center and ground support operations

Objectives:

• Lunar reconnaissance with the planned missions
• ILRS design and selection of site(s)
• Technology verification for a secure high-precision soft landing

Most missions that are planned in the reconnaissance era weren't specifically planned for the ILRS, with some being planned in the 1990s.{{Cite web |title=Luna-Glob |url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/luna_glob.html |access-date=2022-12-13 |website=www.russianspaceweb.com |archive-date=2022-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915050356/http://www.russianspaceweb.com/luna_glob.html |url-status=live }} However, their reconnaissance can still prove useful to the overall mission.

Chang'e 4 achieved a soft landing on the far side of the Moon after its launch on 7 December 2018, and entering lunar orbit on 12 December as a part of China's Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. While not specifically made for the Research Station, as it was a backup module for its predecessor, Chang'e 3,Pearlman, Robert Z. (12 December 2018). [https://space.com/42697-china-chang-e-4-moon-rover-lander-toys.html "China's Chang'e 4 Moon Lander and Rover to Touch Down As Toys"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813192439/https://www.space.com/42697-china-chang-e-4-moon-rover-lander-toys.html |date=2023-08-13 }}. Future US, Inc. Retrieved 15 November 2019. it helped with Reconnaissance for the mission as a whole, a theme for most reconnaissance missions for the Research Station.

Luna 25 was sent to the Moon by Roscosmos to deliver 30 kg of scientific payloads and instruments to the surface of the Moon. It was not planned specifically for the Research Station, with planning going back to the 1990s. However, this craft crashed on the moon due to an incorrect orbit calculation.{{Cite web |title=Госкорпорация "Роскосмос" |trans-title=State Corporation Roscosmos |url=https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/10535 |access-date=19 August 2023 |website=Telegram |language=ru |archive-date=19 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230819153320/https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/10535 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=19 August 2023 |title=Is Luna 25 alive? Russia says an "emergency situation" has occurred |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/08/russia-seems-to-have-lost-contact-with-its-first-lunar-probe-in-half-a-century/ |access-date=20 August 2023 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us |archive-date=20 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820011331/https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/08/russia-seems-to-have-lost-contact-with-its-first-lunar-probe-in-half-a-century/ |url-status=live }}

On 25 August 2023, Roscosmos Director Yury Borisov, during a meeting with representatives of NPO Lavochkin involved in the development of the mission, stated that consideration was being given to recreating the Luna 25 mission with a possible launch for the second attempt slated to occur in 2025 or 2026.{{Cite web |title=Госкорпорация "Роскосмос" |trans-title=State Corporation Roscosmos |url=https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/10617?single |access-date=26 August 2023 |website=Telegram |language=ru |archive-date=26 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230826015849/https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/10617?single |url-status=live }}

China sent Chang'e 6 on 3 May 2024, which conducted the first lunar sample return from Apollo Basin on the far side of the Moon.{{cite tweet |author=Andrew Jones |user= AJ_FI |number=1650832520978526208 |title=China's Chang'e-6 sample return mission (a first ever lunar far side sample-return) is scheduled to launch in May 2024, and expected to take 53 days from launch to return module touchdown. Targeting southern area of Apollo basin (~43º S, 154º W) |date=25 April 2023}} This is China's second lunar sample return mission, the first was achieved by Chang'e 5 from the lunar near side 4 years earlier.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-probe-arrives-at-spaceport-for-first-ever-lunar-far-side-sample-mission/ |title=China's Chang'e-6 probe arrives at spaceport for first-ever lunar far side sample mission |work=SpaceNews |date=10 January 2024 |access-date=10 January 2024}} It also carried a Chinese rover called Jinchan to conduct infrared spectroscopy of lunar surface and imaged Chang'e 6 lander on lunar surface.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Andrew |title=China's Chang'e-6 is carrying a surprise rover to the moon |url=https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-is-carrying-a-surprise-rover-to-the-moon/ |website=SpaceNews |access-date=8 May 2024 |date=6 May 2024 |archive-date=8 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508193233/https://spacenews.com/chinas-change-6-is-carrying-a-surprise-rover-to-the-moon/ |url-status=live }} The lander-ascender-rover combination was separated with the orbiter and returner before landing on 1 June 2024 at 22:23 UTC. It landed on the Moon's surface on 1 June 2024.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/change-6-lands-on-far-side-of-the-moon-to-collect-unique-lunar-samples/ |title=Chang'e-6 lands on far side of the moon to collect unique lunar samples |work=SpaceNews |date=1 June 2024 |access-date=1 June 2024}}{{cite tweet | author= Seger Yu | user= SegerYu | number= 1797042217804337307 | title= 落月时刻 2024-06-02 06:23:15.861 | language= zh }} The ascender was launched back to lunar orbit on 3 June 2024 at 23:38 UTC, carrying samples collected by the lander, and later completed another robotic rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit. The sample container was transferred to the returner, which landed in Inner Mongolia on 25 June 2024, completing China's far side extraterrestrial sample return mission.{{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/change-6-lands-on-far-side-of-the-moon-to-collect-unique-lunar-samples/ |title=Chang'e-6 lands on far side of the moon to collect unique lunar samples |work=SpaceNews |date=1 June 2024 |access-date=1 June 2024}}{{cite tweet | author= Seger Yu | user= SegerYu | number= 1797042217804337307 | title= 落月时刻 2024-06-02 06:23:15.861 | language= zh }} After dropping off the return samples for Earth, the Chang'e 6 (CE-6) orbiter was successfully captured by the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point on 9 September 2024, where it left this orbit for a solar orbit in March 2025.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2024-09-10 |title=Chang'e-6 orbiter turns up at Sun-Earth Lagrange point after moon sampling mission |url=https://spacenews.com/change-6-orbiter-turns-up-at-sun-earth-lagrange-point-after-moon-sampling-mission/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}

Pakistan sent a lunar orbiter called ICUBE-Q along with Chang'e 6.

Luna 26 is a planned lunar polar orbiter. Along with the scientific payload that it would carry, it would allow for a telecom array for landed Russian assets, and Earth. The mission was announced in November 2022, and it has a launch planned for 2027. It will study the lunar surface and perform reconnaissance for the future Luna 27.

{{static row numbers}}

;Stage 1 (2026–2030){{cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |url=https://spacenews.com/china-russia-reveal-roadmap-for-international-moon-base/ |title=China, Russia reveal roadmap for international moon base |work=SpaceNews |date=16 June 2021 |access-date=16 June 2021 |archive-date=3 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203163540/https://spacenews.com/china-russia-reveal-roadmap-for-international-moon-base/ |url-status=live }}

• Technology verification for the command center of ILRS
• Lunar sample return
• Massive cargo delivery and secure high-precision soft landing
• Start of joint operations

;Stage 2 (2031–2035)

• Establishment of in-orbit and surface facilities for the ILRS, in preparation for crewed missions

Objectives:

• Lunar research, exploration, and technology verification
• Supporting crewed lunar missions with the completed ILRS
• Expanding and maintaining modules as needed

• {{annotated link|Artemis Accords}}
• {{annotated link|Artemis program}}
• {{annotated link|Chinese Lunar Exploration Program}}
• {{annotated link|Luna-Glob}}
• {{annotated link|Moonbase}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c6812150/content.html The program at the CNSA website]

{{Moon colonization}}

{{Moon spacecraft}}

Category:Russian lunar exploration program

Category:Chinese Lunar Exploration Program