China Plans To Build Nuclear Powered Base On Moon By 2028

Chinese media Caixin reported that the moon base will likely be powered by a nuclear reactor and be equipped with a hopper, lander, orbiter, and rover, which will be built during the Chang'e 6, 7, and 8 missions. Image | Public Domain.

By Donald Standeford, SJ Founder/Publisher
November 28, 2022 10:20 am UTC
Modified: 2022-11-28 10:20 am

BEIJING - China has announced plans to build a base on the moon by 2028 and then land astronauts several years later. The base will likely be powered by a nuclear reactor.

Wu Weiran, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program stated during an interview with China's state news CCTV, "We hope our astronauts will be able to go to the moon in 10 years".

Chinese media Caixin reported that the base will likely be powered by a nuclear reactor and be equipped with a hopper, lander, orbiter, and rover, which will be built during the Chang'e 6, 7, and 8 missions.

Chang'e 6 is expected to launch in 2025 and will be a robotic lunar exploration, and China's second sample return mission, carrying back lunar samples with a mass of up to 2 kilograms (4.4 lbs).

Chang'e 7 is expected to be launched around 2026, with a mission to explore both the environment and the resources on the moon around the lunar South Pole, as well as lay down construction for the international lunar research station.

Chang'e 8 will be launched after the other two missions are completed by 2030.

After 2030 a new set of missions will be tasked in order to finish the construction of the international research station by 2035, according to the Chinese news agency Xinhuanet.

Wu Weiren said, "There will be multiple rovers and landers working in the future moon station and a lunar-based communication network to support these spacecraft."

"The lunar research station can also function as a transfer outpost for the solar system and even deeper space explorations," he added.