A Kenyan science institution has entered into a partnership with a Chinese space agency with the aim of contributing to the establishment of a permanent base on the moon.
The Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) earlier this month. Under the agreement, KAIST has committed to supporting the ILRS’s goal of building a lunar base by 2030.
The signing ceremony took place at Konza Techno City, located south of Nairobi City, where representatives from both institutions convened. According to a spokesperson from KAIST, this partnership will facilitate research advancements and educational opportunities for members of the institute.
Hu Zhaobin, the deputy director of China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, represented the ILRS at the meeting. The Kenyan representative also expressed KAIST’s intention to engage with the Kenyan government to involve the country in the lunar base project.
Ethiopia has also joined the mission, with its Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) signing an agreement with the ILRS on April 5 during a meeting in Addis Ababa. Ethiopian representatives highlighted their institute’s commitment to actively participating in and promoting the construction of the lunar base.
Hu Zhaobin emphasized that the project would contribute to the development of Ethiopia’s aerospace sector and space exploration technologies.
ILRS has attracted several member countries, including South Africa and Egypt, with nine countries currently involved in the mission. These countries include China, Russia, Venezuela, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, South Africa, Egypt, and Thailand.
