Chinese Scientists Outline Comprehensive Cislunar Space Infrastructure Plan

Chinese scientists have unveiled ambitious plans for a cislunar space infrastructure designed to bolster lunar exploration, advance the nation’s space industry, and promote international collaboration.

The proposed system aims to provide data communication, positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, as well as space situational monitoring for users spanning ground-based, near-Earth, cislunar, lunar surface, and deep space environments.

The details of this infrastructure are laid out in an article titled "Orbit Design Method of Near-Lunar Space Constellation,". The authors, including Yang Mengfei, a senior scientist at the China Academy of Space Technology, present a conceptual framework and phased development plans for a constellation supporting a variety of human activities in cislunar space.

The design focuses on enhancing communications capabilities and lunar navigation, while also considering the costs of deployment and maintenance.

Phased Development Plan

Phase One: The initial phase involves deploying satellites in elliptical frozen orbits (ELFO) around the Moon. These orbits are chosen for their stability and efficiency in covering the lunar surface.

Phase Two: This phase will introduce additional ELFO satellites and place spacecraft at the Earth-Moon Lagrange points (L1, L2, L4, and L5), a near-rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO), and a cislunar space station in geostationary orbit.

Phase Three: The final phase will expand the constellation with satellites in distant retrograde orbits (DRO), establishing comprehensive near-moon and extended space constellations. The system will also include extensive ground-based facilities to support these space segments.

Technical Challenges and Solutions

The implementation of this infrastructure presents significant technical challenges.

These include the need for high-precision orbital dynamics modeling, collaborative operation methods among different space segments, and the establishment of a unified time-space reference system.

Advanced communication and navigation technologies will be essential, such as high-frequency, high-efficiency amplifiers, large-diameter high-gain antennas, and the innovative integration of communication, PNT, and monitoring functions.

Supporting Lunar Missions and Industry

The cislunar space infrastructure is designed to support major national lunar exploration projects, including plans to land Chinese astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and the development of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

The infrastructure aims to accelerate the growth of China’s space industry and enhance national capabilities in science and technology.

The Queqiao Constellation

China is already working on the Queqiao (“Magpie Bridge”) constellation, intended to support its crewed lunar missions and the ILRS.

The constellation will promote a cislunar space economy, driving growth in communication, navigation, remote sensing, resource utilization, space tourism, education, and culture.

It will also facilitate international cooperation and contribute to global efforts by providing shared services and participating in the formulation of international standards.

Global Context and Significance

China is not alone in pursuing cislunar infrastructure. The United States is developing similar capabilities, focusing on cislunar space surveillance sensors, high-bandwidth communications, and navigation systems, with the Oracle spacecraft set to monitor deep space starting in 2027. The European Space Agency is also planning a lunar constellation under its Moonlight initiative.

“Such infrastructure around or on the moon is very important if there is to be any significant presence – human and robotic – on the moon as there is always a need for more bandwidth, monitoring, and navigation services,” - Bleddyn Bowen, University of Leicester

The project’s success could position China as a global leader in lunar exploration.

“If China can sustain a long term program for lunar exploration it will give Beijing leverage in any future discussions and negotiations on the governance of the moon and in particular on the management and deconfliction of lunar operations," - Bleddyn Bowen, University of Leicester

Future Prospects

China has already demonstrated its capabilities with the deployment of the Queqiao-1 and Queqiao-2 communications relay orbiters, which support lunar farside missions and future lunar south pole exploration. The Queqiao 2 mission, in particular, supported the Chang’e-6 lunar farside sample return mission and will relay communications for the upcoming Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 lunar landers.

“For our country, it is now a key opportunity to seize the opportunity and lead the Earth-moon space industrial market. It will have a great impact and far-reaching significance,” - Yang Mengfei

As visions for the Queqiao constellation and other cislunar initiatives continue to take shape, China’s cislunar space infrastructure is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring the safe and reliable conduct of space activities, driving technological advancements, and fostering the cislunar space economy.

While these plans currently receive strong central backing, the timeline for their deployment remains uncertain.