September 8, 2023
On 1st September 2023, Mr. CHEN Xiaodong, on behalf of CNSA, the Ambassador of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of South Africa, and Mr. Humbulani Mudau, the CEO of SANSA signed “The Memorandum of Understanding on International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) Cooperation Between China National Space Administration (CNSA) and South African National Space Agency (SANSA)”. The signed MoU marks South Africa’s formal entry into China’s ILRS program.
Under the MoU, China and South Africa will cooperate extensively on demonstration, mission implementation, operation and application, education and training of the ILRS. In addition, under the cooperation framework of BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation, China’s and South Africa’s space agencies carried out cooperations on remote sensing data exchange and application, and satellite ground stations.
On the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations establishment between China and South Africa, South Africa’s formal entry of ILRS Cooperation indicates that China-South Africa cooperation has been extended from near-earth space to the moon and deep space beyond. It plays a significant role in boosting technology advances and building a high-standard community with a shared future for China and South Africa.
