China's bold moon base plans to outpace USA by 2035

Although it may seem unbelievable, China aims to surpass the USA and take the lead in the space race within a few years. Beijing’s ambitious plans include establishing a nuclear power plant and a permanent lunar base.

During a presentation for foreign governments and international organizations in Shanghai, scientists unveiled the most detailed plans yet for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The facility is to be developed in cooperation with Russia.

According to ladbible.com, the permanently staffed joint base is expected to be completed by 2035. China plans to send astronauts to the Moon within the next five years, with the first foundations of the facility to be laid by 2028. The construction of a nuclear power plant on the Moon is also being considered to power the Chinese-Russian station.

Pei Zhaoyu, the chief engineer of the mission, stated during the presentation that solar panels will also contribute to the base's energy resources. Additionally, the idea of building a nuclear power plant on the Moon was supported last year by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, which announced plans to construct a nuclear reactor on the surface by 2035, in cooperation with the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Beijing believes that Russia possesses the advanced technology necessary for constructing a power station on our nearest cosmic neighbor.

It's hard not to see the race to "conquer" space as part of the geopolitical rivalry between China and the USA. For years, there have been discussions about the potential to develop mines on the surface of the "silver globe."

Meanwhile, the Americans, who first set foot on the Moon in 1969, are planning a landing on Mars. This is expected to be possible at the turn of the third and fourth decades of the 21st century.