Factbox-Partner nations on China's lunar research station programme

FILE PHOTO: China's national flag flutters at a business district in Beijing, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

Source: X01368

Earlier in October, Pakistan and Azerbaijan joined the ILRS, a project jointly initiated by China and Russia in 2021 and widely seen as a rival to the U.S.-led Artemis programme.

Lunar missions this decade will establish a "basic" version of the research station, followed by more missions in the 2030s to construct a "full" version of the base.

By 2050, the ILRS is expected to be a fully operational station for lunar research, and potentially also a launch pad for crewed missions to other planets in the solar system.

Country Year/Month joined

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