St. Petersburg – Russia and China have announced setting up an independent base on the Moon. Indications were received from both countries that a moon mission will be launched in October, and the Moon base will be operational in the next decade. Both the countries announced that the cooperation between them in the space sector would be increased during an international space conference recently held in Russia. This increasing cooperation between Russian and China is believed to be a direct challenge posed to the United States’ influence, along with Western countries, in the space sector.
A few days ago, Brazil signed the Artemis Accords, an initiative by the US space agency NASA. Brazil became the twelfth country to sign the agreement. It is being said that the United States is building an independent front in the space sector through this agreement. The deal has provisions for joint space missions along with the mineral deposits on the Moon and other commercial issues. Although the United States has invited all the countries to sign the agreement, it has already been clarified that Russia and China will not be joining the agreement.
Russia took a major lead in the space sector, in the decades of 1950-60, by sending the first spacecraft and cosmonaut into space. But since the last two decades, Russia seems to be lagging in this sector, and lack of funds is believed to be the cause. While Russia is lagging, China appears to be forging ahead in the space sector. The Russian cooperation has been an essential contributor to many of the Chinese space missions.
Against this same background, both these countries have been taking the initiative for joint space missions for the last few years. Presidents of both countries have taken an insistent stand on the issue and have signed comprehensive cooperation agreements for the space sector. Russia has the necessary technology and skill set for space missions, and China has ample funds and abundant manpower. Therefore, these two countries are taking rapid steps, pooling these resources, and opening an independent front in the space sector.
The International Lunar Research Station that is to be built on the Moon is considered to be a part of the same initiative. The space agencies from Russia and China informed that this base would be built on the south pole of the Moon. A space station orbiting the Moon will also be built, along with the base.
Both countries announced that the first moon mission for this ambitious Moon base would be launched in October this year. As per the claims made by Russia and China, the concerned base can be operational by the next decade. Furthermore, it has been revealed that China has successfully executed the mission to build a space station, and the base on the Moon will increase the Chinese influence in space further.
Western countries, including the United States, have already criticised the Russian and Chinese movements in the space sector. The US officials had criticised that the activities of both these countries in space are suspicious, and they are trying to militarise space. The British Defence Minister had openly warned that the United Kingdom would retaliate against the Russian and Chinese aggression in space.
