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BEIJING, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Belarus this week joined China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) programme, the third country to sign up this month for a plan to eventually set up a permanently inhabited outpost on the moon's south pole.
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.
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Country
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Year/Month joined
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China*
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2021/June
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Russia*
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2021/June
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Venezuela
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2023/July
|
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South Africa
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2023/September
|
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Azerbaijan
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2023/October
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Pakistan
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2023/October
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Belarus
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2023/October
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Note: (*) denotes founding member
- Adenman
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