Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Leading space officials in China are detailing deep space exploration plans, from setting up a scientific research station on the Moon, collecting and returning specimens of Mars and asteroid, as well as exploring the Jupiter system.

A recently held 2nd International Deep Space Exploration Conference in Tunxi of Huangshan City in east China’s Anhui Province provided the stage to discuss China’s long-range plans.

Image credit: CCTV/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Lunar south pole

In the cue is putting in place an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration project, explains that the ILRS project will be implemented in two phases. Wu is also director and chief scientist of Deep Space Exploration Lab.

The first phase will see a basic facility built by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, Wu explains in recent interviews, posted by China Central Television (CCTV) and China Global Television Network (CGTN).

An ILRS second phase, Wu added, is being scripted to establish a network connecting the Moon’s south pole, equator and far side by 2050.

Artist’s view of International Lunar Research Station to be completed by 2035. Credit: CNSA

Shadow pits

“According to scientists’ deduction, or based on our international counterparts’ previous long-time scientific exploration,” Wu said, “we should strive to have people go up to the Moon in a short term. Then we could see whether there is water in the permanent shadow pits there.”

If water molecules are indeed found and direct evidence of the existence of water ice on the Moon at the poles of the Moon, Wu continued, “that will pave the way for humans to stay on the Moon for a long time and even lay a foundation for humankind to reach farther deep space from the Moon, such as Mars or other planets.”

Chang’e-8 south pole lander.
Image credit: CNSA

Upcoming lunar landers

Following two successful robotic Moon sampling, Earth-return ventures – near-side Chang’e-5 (December 2020) and far-side Chang’e-6 (June 2024), upcoming is the Chang’e-7 that will land on the south pole of the Moon and search for water.

Chang’e-8 will also touchdown at the south pole of the Moon and will join Chang’e-7 “to form the basic structure of the south pole station on the Moon,” Wu said.

The ILRS initiative, officially launched by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in 2017, has been bolstered since that time with more than 40 institutions from around the world already signing agreements for cooperation with China.

Tianwen-3 mission’s chief designer, Liu Jizhong.
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Mars sample return

Chinese space engineers are also moving ahead in orchestrating a Mars sample retrieval plan, a mission known as Tianwen-3. That robotic snag, bag, and rocket to Earth Red Planet bits and pieces involves two launches to Mars by around 2028, according to the mission’s chief designer, Liu Jizhong.

Liu unveiled details of the plan in a recent interview with CGTN.

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The plan is structured into 13 stages, employing both on-the-spot and remote sensing techniques to conduct comprehensive research on Mars samples to ensure that they can be successfully returned and yield meaningful scientific discoveries. The mission’s top priority, Liu said, is to search for traces of life on Mars, and will involve critical engineering technologies, according to CGTN.

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Challenges ahead

“We have made many optimizations and upgrades during the demonstration process. So, it should be carried out with two Long March 5 carrier rockets, which basically would be launched in succession,” said Liu. “Then all the samples can finally be returned.”

However, Liu added that the sample return mission still faces many challenges.

“First of all, there is the issue of landing accuracy. Secondly, the return mission requires a launch from the surface of Mars, which actually involves a small rocket launch. Therefore, it is very difficult to ensure the reliability of the entire flight process. Thirdly, the temperature of Mars is relatively low, which poses a challenge to the propellants used in our current rockets,” Liu said.

Conceptual video of China’s Mars sample return plans show robot specimen collection.
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Payload collaboration

International cooperation on the Tianwen-3 mission, Liu continued, will focus on three areas: payload collaboration, sample and data sharing, and planning for future missions.

“International cooperation has always been an important part of China’s deep space exploration. Throughout the process, we’ve been working together with our international fellow scientists,” said Liu.

According to Liu, space planners have set aside certain resources for international payloads.

“Basically, we kept 25 kilograms for the orbiter and five kilograms for the service orbiter. Many international scientific research institutions and universities have expressed great interest,” Liu noted, “including Russia, Europe and some other countries. Other forms of international cooperation include data cooperation in future, such as data sharing, including joint research on the samples.”

Sample handoff high above Mars.
Image credit: CCTV/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Humans to Mars

Liu underscored China’s progress in its crewed Moon exploration plans, and said they could pave the way for future human missions to Mars in the decades to come.

“Currently, we are working on the manned lunar landing mission, and it’s progressing smoothly. In fact, one of the goals of this mission is to conduct research through landing humans on the lunar surface, which will pave the way for future missions to Mars. Therefore, it is definitely a possibility for us humans to land on the Mars,” Liu said.

Image credit: CCTV/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab