China and Russia's Moon Base Alliance May Be Falling Apart

The most passive way to broadcast issues in its space collaboration with Russia is by simply removing the country's name from presentations.

At the IAC in Paris last week, a chief Chinese space representative told the assembled experts that the country is open to international proposals for its Chang'e-7.

Falling Out

We're looking at tea leaves here. The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) was supposed to be built by China and Russia in March 2021. Near the Moon's south pole is where NASA's long-awaited Artemis program will set up shop.

The countries are currently in the "reconnaissance" phase of the project, which hopes to host crewed lunar missions by the mid-2030s.

Awkward Timing

According to the SpaceNews report, Russia was not at the IAC because of its invasion of Ukraine, but it's a pretty odd partnership to fail to mention given how much has been said about it.

The only indication that the ILRS is supposed to be spearheaded by China and Russia came on a single slide, which stated that future Chang'e and Russian Luna missions would be undertaken in cooperation between the countries.

"Be it in space or elsewhere, China has a very realistic view of Russia and partnering with Moscow has never been Beijing's most preferred outcome," European Space Policy Institute senior research fellow Marco Aliberti told SpaceNews.

Aliberti said that Beijing is faced with a difficult dilemma: turn the relationship into a real partnership or drop it altogether.

It definitely sounds like a difficult dilemma, and one that will lead to more drama.

China is looking for new partners to explore lunar and deep space.

The Chinese Rover discovered evidence of an ancient ocean on Mars.