Daily Junction.mobi portal<figure class="align-center "> <img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/747136/original/file-20260710-57-ov07t1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/747136/original/file-20260710-57-ov07t1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/747136/original/file-20260710-57-ov07t1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/747136/original/file-20260710-57-ov07t1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/747136/original/file-20260710-57-ov07t1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/747136/original/file-20260710-57-ov07t1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/747136/original/file-20260710-57-ov07t1.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> <figcaption> <span class="caption">Visualisation of the interior of Shackleton Crater, at the south pole of the Moon.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4716/">NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio</a></span> </figcaption> </figure>
<p>The next phase of lunar exploration, pencilled in for 2029-2032, should see the laying down of key infrastructure, such as power supplies and communications systems. </p>
<p>Drilling and digging will prepare the ground for an eventual base, which could be partly underground to protect against radiation and impacts by tiny space rocks. Nasa will also send a more sophisticated Japanese-built rover to the surface with a pressurised interior. This will allow astronauts to live and work in a mobile lab without bulky space suits</p>
<p>The plans for the final phase, from 2032 onwards, involves people living for long periods on the Moon, building up a modular base and taking advantage of the Moon’s resources to produce water, oxygen and even building materials.</p>
<figure class="align-center "> <img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/742230/original/file-20260616-85-ckdykn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/742230/original/file-20260616-85-ckdykn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742230/original/file-20260616-85-ckdykn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742230/original/file-20260616-85-ckdykn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742230/original/file-20260616-85-ckdykn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742230/original/file-20260616-85-ckdykn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742230/original/file-20260616-85-ckdykn.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"> <figcaption> <span class="caption">The Japanese space agency and Toyota are building a pressurised rover for lunar missions.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_Cruiser#/media/File:Toyota_JAXA_LUNA_CRUISER_Model_at_Japan_Mobility_Show_2023.jpg">SuFlyer</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span> </figcaption> </figure>
<p>For the rival effort to build a lunar base, China is partnering with Russia and collaborating with several other countries. Over the next couple of years, Beijing will test its <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/china-moon-mission-mengzhou-artemis">Mengzhou crew capsule</a> and Lanyue landing vehicle ahead of a first lunar landing around 2030.</p>
<p>Construction of a base, called the International Lunar Research Station, is scheduled to be underway by 2035. The planned location for this base is also the lunar south pole, so there’s a race to pick the best spot.</p>
<p>There’s plenty of science to be done by crews living in these bases, some of it related to understanding the structure and formation of the Moon itself, as well as investigations related to medical and materials research.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable"> <a aria-label="Zoomable image" href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="Artemis III (now IV) candidate landing sites" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/742238/original/file-20260616-57-cb4ggd.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a> <figcaption> <span class="caption">Nasa has been studying potential landing sites at the lunar south pole.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-identifies-candidate-regions-for-landing-next-americans-on-moon/">Nasa</a></span> </figcaption> </figure>
<p>Another scientific goal could be to establish radio telescopes on the far side of the Moon, where they would be shielded from the sea of radio communications originating on Earth. This could allow astronomers to detect faint cosmic signals that are otherwise impossible to detect using ground-based instruments. </p>
<p>And the relatively low gravity of the lunar surface could make it easier than Earth for launching missions to other destinations in the solar system. By sending up components and assembling them on the Moon, future missions could use much larger, more capable spacecraft. That’s particularly important if there are people on any of those missions.</p>
<p>There are also economic benefits to having a lunar presence. Private companies will make money by building the landers, rovers and other key technologies. There may also be a market in transporting equipment and experiments to the lunar surface. Making rocket fuel on the Moon would make space exploration cheaper than lugging it from Earth. It could even be used to refuel satellites in Earth orbit.</p>
<p>If humanity can do one thing well, for better or worse, it’s to exploit the natural environment. </p>
<p>The 1979 <a href="https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/moon-agreement.html">United Nations Moon Agreement</a> states that no one can claim sovereignty over the Moon, and must use its resources responsibly – which sounds promising. Unfortunately, almost none of the countries involved with Artemis, including the US and UK, have signed it. As scientists, we live in hope that this doesn’t all turn into a big land grab.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/285421/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
<p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-north-121808">Chris North</a>, Lecturer of Physics and Astronomy, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cardiff-university-1257">Cardiff University</a></em></span></p>
<p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-the-us-china-moon-race-could-turn-into-a-lunar-land-grab-285421">original article</a>.</p> </div>