China Opens Bids for Lunar Satellite to Support Crewed Moon Missions

Beijing, China - In a significant step towards its ambitious space program, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has announced an invitation for domestic enterprises and institutions to submit bids for a lunar remote sensing satellite. This satellite is specifically designed to support China's first crewed moon landing, expected before 2030, and subsequent lunar exploration missions.

The tender announcement was made on February 14, 2025, highlighting the satellite's role in gathering high-precision topographic and geomorphic data from the moon's low-latitude regions. It will also map key mineral resource distributions and identify characteristic minerals, providing critical data for selecting landing sites and resource utilization on the lunar surface.

The project aims to enhance China's capability for long-term lunar exploration by establishing a satellite constellation for communications, navigation, and remote sensing. This infrastructure will be pivotal for the success of the crewed landing missions, which are part of a broader plan to establish a permanent lunar presence, including the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) in collaboration with countries like Russia, Pakistan, and others.

According to the CMSA, the satellite will operate in a low inclination or polar orbit with a focus on low-latitude observation, aiding in the meticulous planning of the lunar surface operations. This initiative underscores China's commitment to advancing its space technology, particularly in the competitive arena of lunar exploration, where it aims to match or surpass the achievements of other space-faring nations like the United States.

The bidding process is exclusive to Chinese entities, reflecting a strategy to bolster domestic capabilities in aerospace technology. However, international cooperation is not entirely off the table, as seen with previous missions where countries like Pakistan have contributed payloads to Chinese lunar explorations.

This move comes at a time when the global space race is intensifying, with the U.S. Artemis program also targeting human returns to the moon. However, China's approach with this satellite project is to ensure a robust support system for its astronauts, which includes precise mapping and resource evaluation capabilities that could significantly influence the success of its lunar ambitions.

China's space program has been marked by rapid progress, from the successful Chang'e missions that have already landed on both the near and far sides of the moon to the construction of its Tiangong space station. The invitation for bids on this lunar satellite project not only showcases technological prowess but also signals China's readiness to take a significant leap in human space exploration.

Industry experts and space enthusiasts are keenly watching how this project unfolds, as it could set precedents for future lunar missions not just by China but potentially by other nations looking to collaborate or compete in the lunar domain.

The deadline for submitting bids is set for March 8, 2025, after which the CMSA will review and select the proposals that best align with the strategic objectives of ensuring a successful Chinese footprint on the moon.