China and Europe cooperate to build a village on the Moon

The European Space Agency and China discussed how to cooperate to build a human base on the Moon.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) held talks regarding the cooperation to build a manned base on the Moon on April 26, according to Independent.

"The Chinese have an ambitious Moon program. We realize that in order to explore the universe, for peaceful purposes, we need international cooperation," said Pal Hvistendahl, spokesman. of ESA, said.

Simulation of housing structures on the Moon in the future.(Photo: Foster & Partners).

Johann-Dietrich Wörner, ESA's secretary general, described the proposal for "Moon village" as an international launch pad for future Mars expeditions. At the same time it is also an opportunity to develop space tourism or mining on the Moon.

China is relatively slow in space travel, but the country is increasing programs since the manned space flight in 2003, more than 42 years after a Soviet astronaut became The first person to fly into Earth orbit.

Last week, CNSA successfully launched an unmanned spacecraft to connect to China's space station. CNSA plans to collect specimens on the Moon later this year, and next year will bring back mineral samples on the other side of the Moon.

ESA hopes to participate in the analysis of samples taken by the Hang Nga 5 spacecraft this year as well as bring European astronauts to the Chinese space station in the future, according to Hvistendahl.