International Lunar Research Station
China and Russia's rival lunar base programme competing with NASA's Artemis Accords framework.
Last refreshed: 2 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Which countries are hedging between the US and Chinese Moon programmes?
Latest on International Lunar Research Station
- What is the ILRS?
- The International Lunar Research Station is a joint China-Russia programme to build a permanent base on the Moon by the 2030s.Source: background
- How does ILRS differ from Artemis Accords?
- ILRS is led by China and Russia as a rival to the US-led Artemis framework, offering an alternative governance model.Source: background
- Which countries signed both ILRS and Artemis Accords?
- Thailand and Senegal are among the dual signatories, having joined both frameworks.Source: background
- Why are dual signatories a problem for Artemis?
- They undermine the exclusivity the Accords were designed to create, weakening the US Coalition-building narrative.Source: background
- Who leads the ILRS programme?
- China and Russia jointly lead ILRS, announced in 2021.Source: quick_facts
Background
Some Artemis Accords signatories, including Thailand and Senegal, have also signed onto ILRS, complicating the US-led coalition picture.
A joint China-Russia programme announced in 2021, ILRS plans a permanent lunar base for the 2030s and is open to international partners outside the US-led framework. It represents an alternative governance model for lunar operations.
ILRS creates a dual-framework landscape where nations can hedge between US and Chinese lunar programmes. The existence of dual signatories undermines the exclusivity the Artemis Accords were designed to establish.
