China and Russia agree to build lunar space station together – Chron

China and Russia have agreed to build a new lunar space station together, according to a statement by the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

CNSA and Russian federal space agency (Roscosmos) leaders signed a "memorandum of understanding" on Tuesday to move forward with plans to construct a lunar research station, according to Jessie Yeung with CNN.

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"China and Russia will use their accumulated experience in space science, research and development as well as the use of space equipment and space technology to jointly develop a road map for the construction of an international lunar scientific research station (ILRS)," CNSA said.

A statement from Roscosmos said the two space agencies plan to "promote cooperation on the creation of an open-access ILRS for all interested countries and international partners, with the goal of strengthening research cooperation and promoting the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes in the interests of all mankind," Yeung wrote.

Neither statements from the CNSA or the Roscosmos provide a target date for the ILRS.

NASA isn't far behind with its plans to send astronauts to the moon and "establish sustainable exploration by the end of the decade," according to the space agency'sArtemis program.

Back in October, NASA signed the Artemis Accords to work with eight other nations and several partners in the private sector on future moon explorations, according to Mike Wall with Space.com.

A company called the Orbital Assembly Corporation (OAC) has set its sights on constructing the first commercial space station by 2025.

Russia and China, however, are not part of the Artemis agreement to work with the United States on their race to the moon, according to Wall.

While Russia has collaborated with the U.S. through the International Space Station, China is prohibited from collaborating on space projects unless Congress approves the partnership in advance, Wall said.

China also plans to send astronauts to the moon by the 2030s, and if they succeed, they will be only the second country after the U.S. to accomplish such a mission, Yeung wrote.

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China and Russia agree to build lunar space station together - Chron