Rigorous Lunar Simulation
China has completed a critical milestone in its manned moon program, successfully testing the Lanyue lunar lander’s ascent and descent systems at a specialized facility in Hebei province. The site featured engineered terrain with craters, rocks, and special coatings to precisely mimic the moon’s surface reflectivity and topography. This multi-condition, high-complexity trial, China’s first full test of crewed extraterrestrial landing and takeoff capabilities validated the lander’s navigation, propulsion, and engine-shutdown protocols under lunar gravity simulated by tethered towers.
Lanyue: Multifunctional Lunar Hub
Named "Embrace the Moon" in Mandarin, Lanyue will transport two astronauts between lunar orbit and the surface, doubling as their living quarters, power station, and data center during missions. Designed for redundancy and safety, its engines can compensate for failures to ensure crew safety. Engineers minimized weight through integrated systems, enabling it to carry rovers and scientific equipment for extended lunar research.
Race Against Artemis
The test advances China’s goal to land astronauts before 2030, positioning it competitively against NASA’s Artemis program (planned lunar flyby in 2026, landing in 2027). China’s unique achievements, retrieving samples from both moon sides via Chang’e missions have attracted collaborations with the European Space Agency, Thailand, and Pakistan, which contributed the ICUBE-Q orbiter to the Chang’e-6 mission.
Path to Permanent Lunar Presence
A successful crewed mission would accelerate the China-Russia-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), targeting a "basic model" by 2035. This station will include a lunar-surface nuclear reactor for sustained power, enabling large-scale experiments and resource utilization. Seventeen nations including Pakistan, South Africa, and Azerbaijan have joined the ILRS, with Pakistan developing a rover for the 2028 Chang’e-8 mission to analyze regolith and mobility systems.
Global Science, Regional Leadership
The ILRS prioritizes open collaboration: China’s "555 Project" aims to engage 50 countries, 500 institutions, and 5,000 researchers. Pakistani official Amjad Ali praised the partnership for enabling "emerging space nations to rise," noting it strengthens intercultural dialogue and peaceful exploration. As Huang Zhen, the lander’s designer, emphasized: "Every bit of weight must serve multiple functions; this is how we achieve the extraordinary".