HELSINKI -- China's space agency has accepted the participation of a commercial space company in a lunar exploration mission for the first time, indicating potential growth in commercial lunar activities.
STAR.VISION Aerospace Group Limited, specializing in satellite design and AI data analysis, will collaborate with Zhejiang University (ZJU) and the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Türkiye to develop two 5-kilogram lunar surface micro-exploration robots. This initiative has been selected for China's upcoming Chang'e-8 mission, scheduled for launch in 2028 aboard a Long March 5 rocket.
STAR.VISION is the first private enterprise approved by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to engage in the lunar exploration program, as stated in a January 24 announcement.
The collaboration will focus on specific areas, with ZJU contributing engineering expertise, STAR.VISION providing algorithms and components, and METU developing navigation systems and robotic subsystems. METU's involvement follows Türkiye's application to join the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), showcasing China's international engagement in lunar projects.
Chang'e-8 aims to test in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) at the lunar south pole, targeting long-term lunar habitation. ISRU involves utilizing local resources to produce materials for sustaining human presence on the Moon. This mission, along with the 2026 Chang'e-7 mission, will lay the groundwork for China's larger ILRS project planned for the 2030s.
The inclusion of STAR.VISION signifies a shift allowing Chinese companies to participate in national lunar missions, potentially paving the way for future commercial lunar ventures. China has been progressively expanding opportunities for commercial actors in its space sector, making commercial space a priority in 2022.
Currently, American and Japanese commercial lunar landers are in Earth orbit, embarking on complex journeys to the Moon after launching on a Falcon 9 rocket on January 15.
The Chang'e-8 mission will also feature a robot developed through international cooperation, led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). This robot, weighing approximately 100 kilograms, will conduct scientific exploration and deploy instruments on the lunar surface. Its mobile wireless charging capability is expected to enhance the efficiency of lunar exploration.
In October 2023, CNSA announced opportunities for international cooperation in the Chang'e-8 mission, making around 200 kilograms of payload mass available. This follows China's previous international collaborations in earlier Chang'e missions.
China has also taken steps towards lunar habitation and ISRU, including deploying bricks made from lunar regolith simulant aboard the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft. These bricks will be exposed to outer space conditions for three years before returning to Earth for analysis, potentially informing ILRS construction strategies.
Additionally, China is exploring solutions for various lunar exploration challenges, including habitat construction using lava tubes, powering surface spacecraft during lunar night, and establishing a comprehensive communications and navigation network for lunar missions.