Russia and China develop three concepts for a telescope on the Moon

Many concepts for an astrophysical telescope that would be able to operate on the moon have been developed by scientists from China and Russia. The most recent issue of the “Bulletin of the Scientific and Production Association named after S.A. Lavochkin” included information about the observatory (the enterprise is part of the “Roscosmos” State Corporation).

It should be noted that the new astronomical telescope will be used by the future International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). The website of the state corporation “Roscosmos” reported this Staff from the Kavli Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University, the National Observatory of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences University, and the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences prepared the concepts. Three designs for a lunar observatory have been put forth by Chinese and Russian researchers.

These include a small, self-guiding UV telescope with an aperture of 15 to 30 centimetres, a multi-aperture telescope for simultaneous UV sky photography, and a large, multi-purpose telescope with an aperture of 60 centimetres that can observe in the UV, optical, and infrared spectrums. In 2035, the telescope is anticipated to begin operations. Within the context of the ILRS-5 mission, its deployment is planned. We would like to remind you that ILRS is a collection of experimental and research facilities that were constructed on the Moon’s surface or in its orbit. With the potential for long-term unmanned operation and the possibility of human presence on the Moon, a scientific lunar station will enable interdisciplinary research, fundamental experiments, and technology testing.

All interested nations and international partners are now welcome to participate in the IRLS forming project. Additionally, a new space cooperation programme for the years 2023–2027 will be signed this year by China and Russia. China is a relatively latecomer to space exploration, but in December of last year, its Change-5 probe successfully returned rock and “soil” it had collected from the moon. It was viewed at the time as another illustration of the nation’s expanding space capability. China and the United States have recently surpassed Russia, which initiated space exploration. Following SpaceX’s successful launch the previous year, it lost its monopoly on transporting astronauts to the International Space Station.