Rocket launch marks big step in building China’s lunar infrastructure

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Maya Posch

Smack-Fu Master, in training
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China's Chang'e Moon mission program is designed to enable ISRU (in-situ research utilisation), first with a fully automated (robotic) lunar base, followed by manned missions in the 2030s. India's Chandrayaan program is similar, also aiming to establish ISRU. Theoretically Russia has a similar program as China, but as we saw with Luna 25, they're mostly coasting along on fading Soviet glory.

I'd argue that NASA is hopelessly behind on lunar exploration, as the focus on manned missions and getting human boots on the lunar regolith makes for very poor science. You could argue that the Lunar Gateway is convenient as a lunar space station, but for that to make sense, it'd need be both constantly staffed and perform science & engineering duties. As things stand, China will have established a fully automated robotic lunar base on the lunar South Pole by 2030, followed by India's robots, while NASA may have gotten Artemis III off the pad.
 
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