Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, April 23, Title: International Lunar Research Station, built like this! ——Interview with Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese lunar exploration project

　　Xinhua News Agency reporters Song Chen, Liu Zhen, and Zhang Jiansong

　　On April 23, the National Space Administration organized an international lunar research station developer meeting in Shanghai. Experts and scholars from many countries discussed the future cooperation model and coordinated development path of the research station.

　　Xinhua News Agency reporters interviewed Wu Weiren, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief designer of the Chinese lunar exploration project, at the meeting, and responded to public concerns on the latest progress of the International Lunar Research Station.

　　International lunar research stations can operate independently for a long time and continue to carry out scientific research

　　Q: How is the International Lunar Research Station planned?

　　Answer: The International Lunar Research Station is a comprehensive scientific research facility initiated by our country and participated in the construction of multiple countries. It is located on the surface of the moon and the orbit of the moon. It is a lunar research station with the purpose of "peaceful use, equality and mutual benefit, and common development".

　　The International Lunar Research Station is a comprehensive scientific experimental facility with long-term independent operation and short-term participation, scalable and maintainable. It has the capabilities of earth-to-month round trip, energy supply, central control, communication navigation, lunar scientific research and ground support, and continues to carry out multi-disciplinary, multi-objective, comprehensive scientific and technical activities such as scientific exploration and research, resource development and utilization, and cutting-edge technology verification.

　　Complete basic construction by 2035

　　Q: How is the current construction progress?

　　Answer: The construction plan for the International Lunar Research Station is divided into two steps, and the basic construction will be completed by 2035 and the expansion construction will be completed by 2045.

　　Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 are both basic contents of the International Lunar Research Station, and the development is currently progressing smoothly. According to the current development and implementation plan, the International Lunar Research Station has made a good start and will discuss and promote it with the cooperative countries in the future.

　　At present, my country has jointly discussed with cooperative countries and determined five major scientific goals, including scientific experiments and resource development. To achieve these scientific goals, it is also necessary to verify matching technically such as "earth-moon round trip". If these goals can be successfully completed, it will provide the world with a number of very valuable scientific achievements. Our understanding of the moon and utilizing the moon will all go to a higher level.

　　Carry out scientific research and share scientific achievements

　　Q: What work is the purpose of this International Lunar Research Station Developer Conference to promote?

　　Answer: The initiative to build an international lunar research station has been responded to by many countries around the world. 17 countries, international organizations and more than 50 international scientific research institutions have joined the cooperation between the international lunar research station.

　　Everyone gathered at this meeting to report on progress and unify scientific goals. In addition, all parties will, in accordance with the principle of consultation, joint construction and sharing, discuss joint demonstration of scientific and application goals, monthly site selection, preliminary plan demonstration of scientific research operation platform, etc., and establish their respective division of labor.

　　In the future, we will jointly carry out joint construction activities such as joint engineering development, engineering and scientific installation, ground facilities construction, international rule formulation and talent education and training, and will also share ground test facilities, jointly carry out scientific and applied research, and share scientific results.

[Editor in charge: Chen Tingyu]