HELSINKI — Belarus joined China’s International Lunar Research Station program Monday, following a video conference with the China National Space Administration.
Vladimir Gusakov, chairman of the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB) and Zhang Kejian, CNSA administrator, signed a joint declaration on cooperation on the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program Oct. 23.
“According to the joint declaration, the parties will cooperate in the process of creating and operating the ILRS,” Belarusian state-owned news agency BelTA reported, citing the press service of NASB.
“The areas of cooperation will be fundamental and applied research in the field of engineering and technologies for space use, new materials and electronic component base, training and advanced training of scientific personnel and specialists. By mutual agreement, the parties shall determine other areas of cooperation,” the NASB statement said.
The China-led ILRS project aims to construct a permanent lunar base in the 2030s, with precursor missions in the 2020s. The initiative is seen as a China-led, parallel project and potential competitor to the NASA-led Artemis Program.
CNSA and NASB agreed to draft a cooperation roadmap to include science and technology projects related to the creation and operation of the ILRS, according to the report.
The Belarus Space Agency operates under the NASB, coordinating space research programs.
The joint declaration follows days after Pakistan officially signed up to ILRS. Victoria Samson, Washington Office Director for Secure World Foundation, told SpaceNews that Pakistan’s joining has more political than technical relevance.
“Pakistan does not have its own launch capabilities—it depends on China for that—and Pakistan has only 3 active satellites on orbit, while China has over 800,” Samson wrote in an email.
“So in terms of it contributing substantively to the ILRS,…
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