Chang’e-8 moon mission first to get robotic boost from China’s private sector

Two AI-controlled lunar rovers in 2028 launch set to mark the first time a Chinese tech subcontractor plays a key role in a space mission

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The China National Space Administration started carrying international payloads with its Chang’e-4 mission. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 10:00pm, 26 Jan 2025

A Chinese private aerospace company has secured a ticket to the moon as it prepares to launch two AI-controlled lunar exploration robots alongside the Chang’e-8 mission in 2028, with international cooperation.

The robots are being jointly developed by STAR.VISION, a private aerospace company based in Hangzhou, along with a professor from Zhejiang University and another professor from Middle East Technical University in Turkey, according to a statement released on Friday.

“This is the first time a private company in China has been responsible for a sub-project in space exploration. Traditionally, China’s space missions have been conducted primarily by state-owned entities,” Wang Chunhui, the company’s chief technology officer, said in an interview.

Chinese private aerospace company STAR.VISION will collaborate with experts from Zhejiang University and Middle East Technical University in Turkey to develop lunar rovers for Chang’e-8. Photo: Handout

“Previous missions like this were typically handled by industrial departments, but this time, we’ve incorporated commercial aerospace companies, and we are also exploring international cooperation,” he said, adding that his company intended to make the most of the opportunity.

The China National Space Administration started carrying international payloads with its Chang’e-4 mission, where it worked with various European and Asian partners.

“STAR.VISION’s primary contribution will focus on the AI processor, while we will contribute expertise in navigation, algorithms and the mechanical components for the rovers, including the rollers,” Halil Ersin Soken, a professor of robotics with Middle East Technical University, said in a press release on Friday.

The two lunar exploration robots will also interact autonomously. “Through data sharing and task delegation, the robots will work together like a team, achieving objectives that would be impossible for independent robots to complete,” Wang said.

Sun Shujian, an aerospace and satellite expert with Zhejiang University, said artificial intelligence (AI) would play a key role in China’s future lunar exploration.