China's lunar ambition: Moon base and nuclear power by 2028
China plans to establish a permanent base on the Moon, with the first foundations set to be laid in 2028. The base will be powered by energy from a nuclear power station, which will also be constructed on the "silver globe."
Though it appears incredible, within a few years, China aims to surpass the United States and take the lead in the space race. Beijing is planning to build both a nuclear power station and a permanent base on the Moon.
During a presentation for foreign governments and international organisations in Shanghai, scientists unveiled the most detailed plans to date for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The facility will be developed in partnership with Russia.
China wants a base on the Moon. When will it be built?
As described by ladbible.com, the permanently staffed joint base is to be constructed by 2035. China plans to send astronauts to the Moon within the next five years. The initial foundations for the facility are expected to be laid as soon as 2028. Moreover, the construction of a nuclear power plant on the Moon is being considered to power the Chinese-Russian station.
Pei Zhaoyu, the chief engineer of the mission, stated during the presentation that energy resources for the base will also come from solar panels. Meanwhile, the concept of building a nuclear power station on the Moon was supported last year by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, which announced plans to build a nuclear reactor on the lunar surface by 2035, in collaboration with the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Beijing believes that Russia is technologically advanced enough to construct a power station on the surface of our closest celestial neighbour.
Chinese-American rivalry in space
It is hard not to sense that the race to "conquer" space is an aspect of the geopolitical rivalry between China and the United States. Discussions about the potential of establishing mines on the surface of the "silver globe" have been ongoing for years.
Having first set foot on the Moon in 1969, Americans are now planning a landing on Mars. This is expected to become feasible in the latter part of the third decade or early in the fourth decade of the 21st century.
