10 Intertnational lunar projects picked for Chang'e 8 mission

10 Intertnational lunar projects picked for Chang'e 8 mission
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 28, 2025

China has selected 10 international projects to join its upcoming Chang'e 8 lunar mission, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Thursday.

The chosen initiatives, representing 11 countries and regions along with the International Society for Terrain-Vehicle Systems, cover a wide array of scientific and technological fields. They will be transported aboard the Chang'e 8 robotic lander.

Among the selected contributions are a multifunctional robot developed by two universities in Hong Kong, an intelligent exploration robot created by Turkiye's Middle East Technical University, a lunar visible and infrared imaging system jointly produced by Bahrain's National Space Science Agency and the Egyptian Space Agency, and a lunar electric potential monitor from the Iranian Space Agency.

CNSA Administrator Shan Zhongde emphasized China's commitment to working with global partners to achieve scientific advances and technological innovations in lunar research "to benefit mankind".

Planned for launch around 2029, Chang'e 8 will focus its operations on the Leibnitz-Beta Plateau near the lunar south pole. The mission will deploy a lander, a rover, and a robotic system.

Alongside Chang'e 7, Chang'e 8 will carry out scientific investigations and test techniques for in situ resource utilization - extracting and using local materials on the Moon or other celestial bodies. These missions are expected to support the eventual development of an International Lunar Research Station.

Utilizing lunar resources will be vital for sustaining human activities on the Moon, said Wu Weiren, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief planner of China's lunar programs.

CNSA noted that in October last year, it opened 200 kilograms of payload space to international collaborators, receiving 41 proposals. Following a comprehensive evaluation based on scientific value, technical feasibility, and collaborative diversity, 14 proposals from 11 countries and regions and one international organization were consolidated into 10 approved projects.

According to Pang Zhihao, a veteran space technology expert from the China Academy of Space Technology, China's efforts to build a multinational lunar base highlight its openness to global cooperation.

"You can find that most of the selected projects come from developing nations that want to build their own space industry," Pang said. "Allowing their participation in world-class missions like Chang'e 8 will tremendously boost their experience and knowhow in planning and executing space activities and enable their designers and engineers to learn and practice as early as possible."