China Plans Communication Superhighway Between Earth and Moon

Chinese scientists have proposed a detailed plan to establish network infrastructure between Earth and the moon, aiming to facilitate space travel. According to researchers from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, this comprehensive network, consisting of three lunar ground stations and 30 satellites, will offer global users services such as monitoring, navigation, and real-time communication.

The purpose of this space superhighway is to enable over 20 space travelers to communicate with Earth through audio, images, or video simultaneously. Additionally, the network will provide precise positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) for spacecraft traveling between the moon and Earth, as well as for operations on the lunar surface.

This infrastructure will also track and monitor moving targets in the cislunar space, which is the area between Earth and the moon, even for objects as small as one meter. These details were shared by researchers in the June issue of the journal Chinese Space Science and Technology.

“Cislunar space has become a new frontier for human activities,” stated the team led by Yang Mengfei, chief designer of China’s Chang’e-5 mission. They noted that space activities in this region are expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, leading to increased global competition.

The team highlighted the ongoing competition for resources such as orbital slots and radio frequencies, stressing the importance for China to establish a top-level plan to develop cislunar space infrastructure and gain an edge in the emerging cislunar economy.

Cislunar space refers to the region between Earth and the moon, encompassing the orbits of satellites around Earth and the space where the moon’s orbit is located.

China’s strategic planning in this area is crucial as the country emerges as a significant player in deep space and lunar exploration. This planning aims to prevent redundant construction and optimize resource allocation for future missions. The strategy includes missions to explore the outer solar system, build an international lunar research station, and achieve crewed lunar landings.

While similar plans exist in the US, Europe, and Japan, none have been executed yet. China’s researchers believe this provides a unique opportunity for China to secure a substantial share in the burgeoning cislunar space industry.