China sets up research development lab for its space program

China has just set up its laboratory for deep space exploration, Taindu, in the Chinese province of Anhui. The unit will conduct scientific, technological and engineering research to support the country’s ambitious plans to become a full-fledged space power, as well as encourage international partnership projects.

Currently, the China National Space Administration (CNSAin English acronym) I just reported that the Taindu Laboratory will serve as a facility for basic large-scale scientific research, adding another piece to the The country’s space force.

Zhang Kejian, president of CNSA, said the new unit will support upcoming missions targeting China’s planetary exploration program, and the development of research stations. International Lunar Science Station (ILRS) Implementation of a defense system against asteroids.

It is worth noting that China signed the Agreement with Russia to develop the ILRS . unit. “The lab is open to the world, it’s an open platform,” said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration programme, adding that the country hopes to attract international talent to the lab.

Support the Chinese space force

The Taindu lab opened in February, thanks to a partnership between CNSA, the Anhui local government, and the University of Science and Technology of China. The unit, another one of China’s milestones in expanding its space exploration capacity, will have a branch in Beijing, the country’s capital.

In 2020, the country launched its first interplanetary mission to Mars, Tianwen-1. Last year, China 1.7 kg of samples brought from the moon With the Chang’e 5 mission – the first lunar samples in more than 40 years. The next steps for the laboratory will be to perform the detection of these missions.

Meanwhile, China is preparing for its next lunar missions: Chang’e 6, for the purpose of collecting samples On the other side of the moon. And the Chang’e 7, who will study the south pole of the moon. Both are scheduled to be launched in 2024. The Chang’e 8, which is scheduled to launch in 2027, will study the use of available resources on the lunar surface, as well as tests of technology such as 3D printing.

China also plans to launch a sample return mission to Mars in 2030 and send a probe to the Jupiter system. In addition, the state also wants to send a mission to collect asteroid samples and study a comet, as well as Launching a pair of space probes To understand the “nose” and tail of the heliosphere, which are some of the farthest points in the solar system.

Source: Via space.com