Photo: CNSA

China and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on joint construction of an international lunar research station, the Global Times learned from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Tuesday.

Approved by governments of the two countries, Zhang Kejian, head of the CNSA, signed the document with his Russian counterpart, General Director of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities Dmitry Rogozin, via a virtual link. 

The two sides will uphold the principle of joint consultation, construction and sharing, to push forward cooperation concerning the building of the international research station on moon, according to a statement that the CNSA sent to the Global Times. And the project will be "open to nations that are interested in the project as well as all partners of the international community."

The project aims to enhance scientific exchanges and injects impetus to human's peaceful exploration and use of space, read the statement. 

The international lunar scientific and research station will be a comprehensive base for long-term, autonomous experiments, providing a platform that is tasked to enable exploration and use of moon, and a slew of basic scientific experiments and technology verification projects either on the lunar surface or in the lunar orbit, said the CNSA.

Using the accumulated experience in space science, R&D and use of space equipment and space technology, China and Russia will jointly formulate the roadmap for building the moon station, work closely in planning, design, implementing and operations of the station, which also includes promoting the project to the international aerospace community.