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?
Timeline for International Lunar Research Station
Mentioned in: Chang'e 7 arrives at Wenchang for launch
Artemis II Moon MissionMentioned in: Orion Enters Lunar Gravity for First Time Since 1972
Artemis II Moon MissionMentioned in: Hansen speaks from Orion; Gateway absent
Artemis II Moon MissionMentioned in: Dual Signatories Complicate the Lunar Coalition Picture
Artemis II Moon MissionMentioned in: China's Moon Landing Timeline Converges With Artemis
Artemis II Moon MissionWhat is the ILRS?
How does ILRS differ from Artemis Accords?
Which countries signed both ILRS and Artemis Accords?
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.
Why are dual signatories a problem for Artemis?
Who leads the ILRS programme?
