China plans to build its first moon base by 2028 and send astronauts there within 10 years, as the country is set to challenge NASA’s dominance in space exploration.
“Our astronauts will likely be able to go to the moon within 10 years.”
– Wu Weiran, Chief Designer of China’s Lunar Exploration Program
The lunar base will likely be powered by nuclear energy, to sustain the station’s long-term and high-power energy needs, according Wu Weiran.
The base will be located on the moon’s South Pole and will eventually expand into an international research station. The area is also an ideal place to find water.
NASA is also interested in setting up its own outpost on that part of the moon, as a staging point for future space exploration to Mars.
