The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) () is a planned

lunar base A moonbase is a facility on the surface of the Moon, enabling human activity on the Moon. As such, it is different from a lunar space station in orbit around the Moon, like the planned Lunar Gateway of the Artemis program. Moonbases can be fo ...

currently being developed by

Roscosmos The State Space Corporation "Roscosmos" (russian: Государственная корпорация по космической деятельности «Роскосмос»), commonly known simply as Roscosmos (russian: Роскосмос) ...

and the

China National Space Administration China National Space Administration (CNSA; ) is the government agency of the People's Republic of China that is responsible for civil space administration and international space cooperation, including organizing or leading foreign exchanges ...

(CNSA), with other partners planning to join later on. The ILRS will serve as a comprehensive scientific experiment base built on the lunar surface or in

lunar orbit In astronomy, lunar orbit (also known as a selenocentric orbit) is the orbit of an object around the Moon. As used in the space program, this refers not to the orbit of the Moon about the Earth, but to orbits by spacecraft around the Moon. The ...

that can carry out multi-disciplinary and multi-objective scientific research activities including exploration and utilization, lunar-based observation, basic scientific experiment and technical verification, and long-term autonomous operation. Statements from Roscosmos and CNSA underline that the project will be "open to all interested countries and international partners."

History

On 16 June 2021,

and the

(CNSA) held a joint session in St. Petersburg 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). Roscosmos and CNSA representatives held consultations on a draft declaration in September 2021, together with experts from

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, the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

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and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs. The talks took place behind closed doors.

Definition and composition

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 unmanned operation with the prospect of subsequent human presence.

Scientific objectives

* 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

Facilities

* 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

Development

Phase 1: Reconnaissance (2021–2025)

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

Planned Missions

Most missions that are planned in the

reconnaissance In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities. Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops (skirmisher ...

era weren't specifically planned for the ILRS, with some being planned far back into the 90's. However, their reconnaissance can still prove useful to the overall mission.

= Chang'e 4

Chang'e 4 Chang'e 4 (; ) is a robotic spacecraft mission, part of the second phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. China achieved humanity's first soft landing on the far side of the Moon, on 3 January 2019. A communication relay satellite, ...

was a

soft landing Soft landing may refer to: *Soft landing (aeronautics) A soft landing is any type of aircraft, rocket or spacecraft landing that does not result in significant damage to or destruction of the vehicle or its payload, as opposed to a hard la ...

on the

far side of the Moon The far side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that always faces away from Earth, opposite to the Near side of the Moon, near side, because of synchronous rotation in the Moon's orbit. Compared to the near side, the far side's terrain is ru ...

, Launched on the 7th of December, 2018, entering Lunar Orbit on 12 of December, 2022, as a part of China's own

Chinese Lunar Exploration Program The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP; ), also known as the Chang'e Project () after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e, is an ongoing series of robotic Moon missions by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The program incorpor ...

. While not specifically made for the Research Station, as it was a backup module for its predecessor,

Chang'e 3 Chang'e 3 (; ) is a robotic lunar exploration mission operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), incorporating a robotic lander and China's first lunar rover. It was launched in December 2013 as part of the second phase of ...

. However, it has still helped with Reconnaissance for the mission as a whole, a theme for most reconnaissance missions for the Research Station.

= Luna 25

Luna 25 Luna 25 (Luna-Glob lander) is a planned lunar lander mission by Roscosmos. It will land near the lunar south pole at the Boguslavsky crater. It was renamed from Luna-Glob lander to Luna 25 to emphasize the continuity of the Soviet Luna program ...

is a planned mission to the Moon by

to deliver 30 kg of scientific payloads and instruments to the surface of the Moon, it also was not planned specifically for the Research Station, with planning going back all the way to 90's.

= Luna 26

Luna 26 Luna 26 (Luna-Resurs-Orbiter
Luna-27, The Pl ...

Phase 2: Construction (2026–2035)

Stage 1 (2026–2030): * 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.

Phase 3: Utilization (from 2036)

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

References

{{Moon spacecraft Russian lunar exploration program Chinese Lunar Exploration Program