China will officially launch the International Deep Space Exploration Alliance (IDSEA) next Monday, marking its first international academic organization dedicated to space exploration. The alliance aims to support deep space technology development, especially in developing countries. Set to be established in Hefei, Anhui Province, IDSEA seeks to harness growing global interest in China’s lunar and Mars missions.
The alliance will focus on international cooperation in exploring the Moon, other planets, and asteroids. Wang Zhongmin, director of the International Cooperation Center at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, said that IDSEA aims to become an inclusive platform that helps developing nations participate in space exploration through practical projects like CubeSat development and researcher training.
Deep space exploration has long been dominated by a few advanced nations due to its high demands in capital, technology, and talent. Despite entering the space race later, China has rapidly emerged as a major player. In April, China announced it would share lunar samples from its Chang’e-5 mission with scientific institutions in France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the UK, and the U.S. China has also invited global partners to join its Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission, slated for around 2028 — the world’s first attempt to bring samples back from Mars.