The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) will consist of a space station in lunar orbit, a moon base on the surface and a set of mobile rovers and intelligent "hopping" robots, according to representatives of Russia's space agency Roscosmos and China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Speaking at the Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX) in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday (June 16), Chinese and Russian space officials said they were already in negotiations with international partners including the European Space Agency (ESA), Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to join their endeavour.

    

  Read more at space.com/china-russia-international-lunar-research-station

 
 
 [Title Image] China and Russia will start preparation work for their future lunar research station this year. (Image credit: Roscosmos/CNSA)
 
 [Second Image] The station will use autonomous technologies including hopping robots and rovers to explore the moon. (Image credit: Roscosmos/CSNA)