Highlight Lecture 2: China's Deep Space Exploration and International Cooperation
Day: Thursday 8 May 2025
Time: 14:30 - 14:55 IST
Location: Grand Ballroom, India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC) - Yashoboomi
China has made significant strides in deep space exploration since launching its lunar program in 2004. Successful missions include Chang’e-1 to Chang’e-6, achieving lunar orbiting, soft landings, and sample returns, as well as Tianwen-1 Mars mission. These efforts have advanced understanding of the Moon, Mars, and evolution of Solar System.
Future plans include Chang’e-7 (2026) and Chang’e-8 (2028) to explore lunar resources and verify technologies like 3D printing, aiming for crewed landing by 2030. Meanwhile the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) initiative invites global collaboration. For planetary missions, Tianwen-3 (2028) aim to return Mars samples, while Tianwen-4 (2030) targets Jupiter and Uranus. China also prioritizes Near-Earth Asteroid Defense, planning a kinetic impact test to protect Earth.
China actively promotes international cooperation for lunar, planetary and asteroid exploration. For ILRS, we partnered with over 20 countries and 50+ institutions, sharing data and fostering joint research. Cooperation will include joint concept study, joint development, facility co-construction, piggyback payloads, data sharing, and talent cultivation. Our target to invite more than 50 countries, 500 international academic institutions, and 5,000 international scientists to participate. The final goal is to build a shared future in outer-space, expanding human knowledge and civilization.
Speaker
Zhongmin WANG
International Cooperation Center, Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), Director
China