HELSINKI — An Omani space company has joined China’s effort to build its International Lunar Research Station as Beijing continues efforts to attract partners.
Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration project and head of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), signed a memorandum of understanding with Omani company Oman Lens on the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) Dec. 2.
The visit to Oman included a visit to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of Oman (MTCIT), according to Chinese AI satellite firm Star.Vision. That company and Oman Lens collaborated on Oman’s advanced, AI-powered optical satellite, OL-1, which launched last month on a Chinese Kinetica-1 solid rocket. DSEL, which plays a central role in China’s ILRS diplomacy, has yet to release its own statement on the development.
Ali al Wahaibi, Oman Lens’ signatory to the memorandum, told the Oman Daily Observer that the collaboration is a pivotal step for Oman’s role in lunar research and sustainable space exploration. He added that the ILRS is about pushing boundaries of scientific discovery, innovation and resource utilization.
ILRS project
China aims to build a basic robotic ILRS by 2035, with five launches to establish power, communications and other infrastructure for a sustainable lunar base. An extended station capable of long-term human habitation is planned for 2045.
Precursor missions, Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8, are targeted to launch in 2026 and 2028 respectively. The latter mission will include in-situ resource utilization technology tests. Both multi-spacecraft missions will target the lunar south pole.
The country is also working towards putting its first astronauts on the moon by 2030. The new Long March 10 rocket for the mission is expected to fly for the first time in 2026, while a reusable Starship-like super heavy-lift launcher is being developed to launch ILRS and other missions.
China has stated it aims to attract 50 countries to the ILRS project. This likely includes subnational participation, rather than counting strictly national and space agency-level cooperation. It plans to establish an organization to coordinate the ILRS project.
Omani space vision
Oman has a nascent space sector and interests in extending its role and influence. The Sultanate’s first satellite, Aman-1, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket in November 2023. Oman Lens has stated plans to launch a constellation of satellites in the coming years.
Last week Oman launched the Duqm-1 high altitude test launch vehicle from the Etlaq Spaceport. The spaceport is planned to be fully operational in 2026.
MTCIT aims to take advantage of Oman’s location, which means launches can take advantage of the greater rotational speed of the Earth near the equator, with launches Eastwards thus requiring less fuel to reach orbital velocity. The spaceport had signed an agreement with ABL Space Systems to explore launching from the facility. However, the firm has since exited the launch market.
Etlaq spaceport could be of interest to China, which is seeking to boost its launch options and access to space. A Chinese firm, Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group, signed an MoU with near-equitorial Djibouti in early 2023 to build a spaceport in the country. The MoU expired, however.
In July 2023 Oman established Zone 88 as a scientific and economic zone dedicated to space industries and advanced technologies.
This and Oman Lens activities and the development of the Etlaq spaceport align with Oman Vision 2040, which aims to diversify sources of income away from oil. Omani involvement in the ILRS could further its stated goals for technological development and space industry growth.
Russia, Venezuela, Belarus, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, South Africa, Egypt, Nicaragua, Thailand, Serbia and Kazakhstan and Senegal have signed agreements and MoUs regarding the ILRS as national-level participants.
A range of subnational entities, including companies, associations and universities, have also joined ILRS. These include groups and firms from Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, Panama, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Croatia, Sri Lanka and Hawaii.
