The key aspect of the Russian-Chinese project to create a lunar station is the equality of partners, its absence was the main reason for Russia's withdrawal from the American Gateway project.
This was announced in an interview with Interfax by the head of Roscosmos Dmitry Rogozin.
"The project to create such a station is a serious step in the exploration of the Moon, so it is open to all interested countries and foreign partners," Rogozin said.
"It is important to emphasize that cooperation within the framework of this project will be carried out on the principles of equal partnership, openness and consensus in decision-making, which is not, for example, in the Gateway lunar station program and which was the reason for our withdrawal from this project," Head Rogozin said.
On June 16, Russia and China presented a roadmap for the construction of a joint lunar base. The construction of the station will begin in 2026, it is planned to be completed by 2035. The station will include two orbital and eight lunar modules. In particular, on the surface of the satellite will be placed: basic telecommunications, command, power, take-off, landing and experimental modules, as well as modules for observation and technological checks.
As Sergey Saveliev, Deputy Director of Roscosmos for International Cooperation, said during the presentation, the state corporation does not exclude the participation of private companies in the project.
