Chang'e VIII - Lunar Research Station
China's lunar exploration mission, Chang'e-8, is planned for launch around 2028 and will join Chang'e-7 to form the basic structure of a lunar research station. On February 7, 2023, CCTV News reported that China will comprehensively promote the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project . Among them, Chang'e 8 will be launched around 2028, and will focus on technical verification of the lunar surface command and communication center of the lunar scientific research station, remote robot detection and in-situ utilization of resources. Chang'e-7 , Chang'e-8 and Queqiao-2 will form the basic model of the lunar south pole scientific research station.
The Chang'e-8 mission aims to explore and research multiple lunar physical fields, regional geological profiles, lunar-based Earth observations and research, in-situ lunar sample analysis and resource utilization, and small, enclosed terrestrial ecosystems on the lunar surface. It will form the basic structure of a lunar research station together with Chang'e-7, etc
On January 14, 2019, the State Council Information Office held a press conference on the Chang'e-4 mission of the lunar exploration project. Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the National Space Administration and deputy commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project, said at the meeting. "In the future, in addition to continuing scientific detection experiments, Chang'e-8 will also conduct lunar surface experiments with some key technologies."
Wu Yanhua said that the China National Space Administration is organizing domestic experts to demonstrate the follow-up plan, and it is basically clear that there are still three missions: First, Chang'e-6 plans to return samples to the south pole of the moon, and determine whether the moon is on the far side or the front based on the sampling results of Chang'e- 5 ; The second is that Chang'e-7 will conduct a comprehensive exploration mission of the moon's topography, material composition, and space environment; the third is that Chang'e-8, in addition to continuing scientific detection tests, will also conduct lunar surface tests of some key technologies.
On January 28, 2022, Liu Jizhong, director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the National Space Administration , said in response to reporters’ questions that around 2025, work related to “ Chang’e-6 ” and “ Chang’e-7 ” will be completed, and at the same time, “Chang’e-6” will be launched. The development of "Chang'e 8"; the launch of "Chang'e 8" must be completed before 2030.
On January 28, 2022, the State Council Information Office released the white paper "China's Aerospace in 2021" and held a press conference. The launch of "Chang'e 8" will be completed before 2030 .
On April 24, 2022, the launching ceremony of the 2022 "China Space Day" was held online. Information released by the National Space Administration shows that China Aerospace will adhere to the forefront of world aerospace development and the major strategic needs of national aerospace, launch Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, and Chang'e-8 probes one after another, and carry out mission-critical technology research and international lunar scientific research. Website construction.
In September 2022, Liu Jizhong, director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the National Space Administration, said that the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project has been approved by the state, and the Chang'e-8 mission will be implemented within the next ten years. In an interview with reporters in November 2022, Wu Weiren , chief designer of China's lunar exploration project , said that the Chang'e 8 plan will be launched around 2028. By then, Chang'e-8 and Chang'e-7 will form the basic model of China's lunar south pole scientific research station; there will be a lunar orbiter, a lander, a lunar rover, a flyby and several scientific detection instruments.
On April 24, 2023, the launch ceremony of the 2023 "China Space Day" home event. The Queqiao-2 relay satellite is planned to be launched in 2024. As a public relay satellite platform for the fourth phase of lunar exploration, it will provide relay for the Chang'e-8 mission. Communication service. The National Space Administration has released a series of strategies and plans for China’s future deep space exploration. Chang’e 8 will cooperate with Chang’e 7 to establish a basic model of an international lunar scientific research station at the south pole of the moon, and conduct a series of tests on lunar resource exploration and utilization.
. China's lunar exploration project adheres to the principles of "equality, mutual benefit, peaceful use, and win-win cooperation" and is open to the international community. The CNSA welcomes countries and international organizations to participate, engage in mission-level, system-level, and unit-level cooperation, jointly achieve significant new scientific discoveries, and contribute to the construction of a shared future for humanity.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced international cooperation opportunities linked to the Chang'e-8 mission during the 74th International Astronautical Congress on 02 October 2023. International cooperation for the Chang'e-8 mission will prioritize tasks involving spacecraft-to-spacecraft "interactions," joint exploration, lunar surface robots with basic operational capabilities, complementary scientific payloads, and innovative scientific cooperation projects.
Chang'e-8's lander offers 200 kilograms of payload resources, with an independent module mass of no more than 100 kilograms, which can be used for system-level and unit-level cooperation projects. The deadline for submitting letters of intent for international cooperation projects for the Chang'e-8 mission is December 31, 2023. Preliminary selection is scheduled to be completed in April 2024, with final selection confirmation in September of the same year.
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