ILRS Archives - SpaceNews

3D render showing a planned moon base, energy, communications and transportation infrastructure on the sunlit lunar surface, including orbiting satellites and a distant Earth in the background.

Policy & Politics

Kazakhstan joins China’s ILRS moon base program

Kazakhstan has signed a memorandum on cooperation on the China-led ILRS and will also explore commercial use of each other’s spaceports.

by Andrew Jones July 5, 2024July 5, 2024

A Chinese flag stands next to a scorched, tipped over Chang'e-6 reentry capsule in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Helicopters are visible in the distance.

Civil

China gears up for deep space missions after collecting 1,935 grams of lunar far side samples

by Andrew Jones June 28, 2024June 28, 2024

A view from the Chang'e-6 lander, showing the golden body of the spacecraft in the foreground, the impression of a landing leg in the lunar regolith, a relatively smooth lunar surface, and distant peaks and rim of Apollo crater against a black backdrop.

Policy & Politics

ESA-China moon cooperation could end with Chang’e-6

by Andrew Jones June 12, 2024June 12, 2024

Policy & Politics

Serbia becomes latest country to join China’s ILRS moon base project

by Andrew Jones May 10, 2024June 28, 2024

Policy & Politics

Nicaragua signs up to China’s ILRS moon program

by Andrew Jones April 25, 2024April 26, 2024

Civil

China on track for crewed moon landing by 2030, space official says

by Andrew Jones April 24, 2024April 24, 2024

Policy & Politics

Thailand joins China-led ILRS moon base initiative

by Andrew Jones April 5, 2024April 5, 2024

Policy & Politics

China adds new moon base project partners, but struggles to attract national-level participation

by Andrew Jones March 28, 2024April 2, 2024

The far side of the moon and distant Earth, imaged by the 2014 Chang’e-5 T1 mission service module.

Civil

China’s Queqiao-2 relay satellite enters lunar orbit

by Andrew Jones March 25, 2024March 25, 2024

Signatories of the Artemis Accords. Credit: NASA

The advent of astropolitical alliances

by Mustafa Bilal January 8, 2024January 3, 2024