July 20 marks International Moon Day, celebrating the historic moment in 1969 when humans first set foot on the moon. This year’s theme is: One Moon, One Vision, One Future, and that future is getting closer, thanks to major breakthroughs in lunar exploration, including those from China.
2025 has been a landmark year for China’s lunar program. In June, lunar samples collected by Chang’e-6 and Chang’e-5 were displayed for the first time at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna. Research on these samples is rewriting our understanding of the moon. Scientists have uncovered new clues about volcanic activity on the moon’s far side and evidence of early impact events that shaped its history.
China isn’t just exploring the moon, it’s building a global scientific community. On China Space Day on April 24, China announced the approval of lunar sample loan applications from seven institutions across six countries, including France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the UK and the United States. So far, 17 countries and international organizations, along with more than 50 global research institutions, have joined the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) led by China. This initiative is set to become one of the largest platforms for lunar science and technology cooperation.
And what’s next? China is moving fast toward its goal of landing astronauts on the moon before 2030. Key technologies are already in development. For example, on June 17, the country tested its uncrewed next-generation crewed spaceship, Mengzhou, to demonstrate its ability to safely propel astronauts to safety in case of emergency.
All these steps are laying the foundation for an International Lunar Research Station, a vision where humanity works together to explore and even live on the moon.
This International Moon Day, let’s remember: there is only one moon, and it’s a shared frontier for all humankind. With cooperation and innovation, we are shaping one vision and one future, together.
What progress has China made in lunar exploration in 2025?
