In a landmark move signaling the growing role of private enterprise in China’s space ambitions, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has approved the participation of a commercial space company in a lunar exploration mission for the first time. This decision could pave the way for increased commercial activity on the Moon.
The Chang’e-6 probe is seen raising a Chinese flag with a robotic arm on the moon’s far side earlier in June. Chang'e 6 lunar rover/Weibo
STAR.VISION Aerospace Group Limited, a Chinese company specializing in satellite design, intelligent platforms, and AI-driven data analysis, will collaborate with Zhejiang University (ZJU) and the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Türkiye to develop two 5-kilogram lunar micro-exploration robots. These robots have been selected for China’s Chang’e-8 mission, which is scheduled for launch in 2028 aboard a Long March 5 rocket.
STAR.VISION’s involvement marks the first time a private Chinese enterprise has been included in a national lunar exploration program. The company announced the milestone in a statement on January 24.
A Collaborative Effort Across Nations
The three partners will focus on specific areas of expertise for the project. Zhejiang University, which previously provided an imager for the Queqiao relay satellite that supported China’s Chang’e-4 lunar far-side mission, will handle the engineering aspects. STAR.VISION will contribute algorithms and components, while METU, representing Türkiye, will develop navigation systems and robotic subsystems.
METU’s involvement follows Türkiye’s 2023 application to join the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), highlighting China’s growing international collaboration in lunar exploration. “It is a great honor to participate in such a cutting-edge international cooperation project,” said Halil Ersin Soken, the project’s chief designer on the Turkish side and a professor at METU.
The Mission and Its Goals
The Chang’e-8 mission is designed to explore in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) at the Moon’s south pole, laying the groundwork for long-term lunar habitation. ISRU involves using local resources, such as lunar regolith, to produce materials or consumables to support sustainable human activity on the Moon.
Chang’e-8, along with the Chang’e-7 mission scheduled for 2026, will form the foundation for China’s future International Lunar Research Station, planned for construction in the 2030s.
Expanding Commercial Space in China
The inclusion of STAR.VISION underscores China’s shift toward integrating commercial entities into its national space programs. This development aligns with broader trends in the space sector, where private companies are increasingly involved in exploration and operations.
China has progressively expanded opportunities for commercial actors in space, encouraging private investments and prioritizing commercial space as a key focus area. The inclusion of private firms in lunar missions could lead to future scenarios where commercial companies launch independent lunar projects, potentially on Chinese-developed commercial rockets.
China is already following NASA’s model of fostering public-private partnerships, such as the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. In 2023, China approved two proposals for low-cost spacecraft to resupply its Tiangong space station using commercial rockets.
Global Collaboration and Advanced Lunar Tech
The Chang’e-8 mission will also feature a larger robot led by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). The project includes contributions from several Chinese universities, the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
The 100-kilogram robot will perform scientific exploration, deploy instruments, and assist with on-site tasks. Its wireless charging capability will power various devices on the Moon’s surface, enhancing the efficiency of collaborative lunar operations.
Lunar Innovation and Challenges
China has opened opportunities for international participation in its lunar missions. In October 2023, CNSA announced that 200 kilograms of payload mass would be made available for international cooperation in the Chang’e-8 mission.
Previous Chinese lunar missions, such as the Chang’e-6 far-side sample return mission, included contributions from France, Sweden, Italy, and Pakistan.
China is also addressing challenges in lunar exploration, including habitat construction using lunar regolith, powering surface spacecraft during the lunar night using lasers, and leveraging lava tubes for shelter. Experiments currently underway involve exposing lunar regolith simulant bricks to harsh space conditions aboard the Tiangong station to test their viability for future use in constructing the ILRS.
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