China has released a video of what its base on the moon will look like

A few days ago, China's space agency CNSA (China National Space Administration) published a kind of conceptual trailer on CCTV of how they want to build a moon base.

You can see lots of rovers, satellites, solar panels and also skyscrapers. A short sequence is particularly strange and could particularly make Americans suspicious. More on that in a moment.

Why is that important? The moon could become our springboard into space to realize future deep space or Mars missions. If the trailer is to be believed, much of what China wants could soon become a reality.

• The Chinese want to build an international research laboratory on the moon.
• According to the video, the project will be supported by partners.
• You can also see a small city with skyscrapers and lots of solar systems.
• Curiously, it starts in the background of a sequence a space shuttle.

The video: Here you can see what the moon base should look like. At 0:10 in the video you will discover a rocket that is suspiciously similar to the American Space Shuttle:

Link to YouTube content

In detail: The plans for such a base have existed for a long time. The CNSA published one back in June 2021 Information brochurewhich discloses details of the project and plans to start construction in 2030.

• The video comments that the main focus of the base is research.
• The MDR dubbed the lunar ambitions the Space Race.
• China is planning to build an ILRS (international lunar research station), which, according to the video, will be open to all nations.

The final goals of this lunar mission are according to the Chinese news channel CGTN a settlement on the moon before 2045. China sees the moon as a springboard for later deep space or Mars missions.

Skepticism and many unanswered questions

A question arises directly: Will it really be a global community project? According to the video, China wants one active participation of commercial space companies under government guidance promote and title the project itself as International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

This is a formulation with a lot of scope for interpretation as to how freely Western companies or governments can participate in this project.

Not only China, but also Europe and the USA have stood loudly in the past German wave critical of a possible collaboration. A sudden, joint pull together is probably more of a wishful thought at this point in time, when the fronts between the USA and China seem to be hardening.

Why does the video contain a Chinese space shuttle?

If you've been paying close attention, you'll spot a small spacecraft taking off at 0:10, which looks very similar to the American space shuttle. In this Twitter post you can see the original, the Challenger:

Link to Twitter content

Worth knowing: If you're wondering what a space shuttle like this is doing on a Chinese moon base, this information might surprise you.

The MDR reported in 2020 on a continued US space shuttle program, called Boeing's X-37. But the Chinese also seem to be researching a similar glider. This one should be loud MDR Have been successfully tested in 2023. The animation in the video isn't all that absurd.

However, it is questionable whether such a rocket launcher including a launchable space shuttle can be implemented on the moon in a timely manner, as the Chinese want according to the video.

Are skyscrapers or cities feasible on the moon?

There are still no permanent structures on the moon. Basically, the moon landing is still a challenge that is not always 100 percent successful.

This is shown, for example, by the crash of a Russian lander last year, according to the knowledge magazine spectrum crashed on the moon due to brake failure.

China had that Mirror According to the report, samples from the front of the moon were last brought to Earth for examination in 2020 and were last brought to Earth in 2019 with a rover called Chang'e 4 landed on the back. China therefore has the necessary technology to be able to transport material to the moon.

But buildings or even skyscraper? Mathias Maurer from the European Space Agency ESA sees this loudly MDR so:

Realistically speaking, there are already projects like one from NASA that are loud Golem already dealing with on-site construction technology. In the future, houses made of lunar regolith will be built on the moon using 3D printing. The starting signal for a test phase is 2027.

The difficulty: Structures on the moon must be able to withstand the extreme conditions (100 degrees during the day, up to minus 223 degrees at night). In addition, the future residents will need a lot of energy and a supply of food and oxygen.

Whether the Chinese or we humans in general will overcome these technical challenges by 2030 or 2045 is literally up in the air.