As of 2019, China began conducting preliminary studies for a crewed lunar mission that would take place by the 2030s. Two years later, the China National Space Agency (CNSA) and Roscosmos announced a partnership to create an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) around the South Pole-Aitken Basin. The proposed timeline for development came down to three phases: Reconnaissance (2021–25), Construction (2025–35), and Utilization (2035–onward). Earlier this year, China announced that its space agency would send the first crewed mission to the lunar surface by 2030.
