Unlikely Alliance: Russia's Bid to Join China in the New Space Race

Russia's space agency, Roscosmos, recently lost control of its Luna-25 lander during an attempted return to the Moon. Despite this setback, the agency's chief, Yuri Borisov, declared a "new race to exploit the Moon's resources" and hinted at a potential crewed Russian-Chinese mission in the future. However, experts believe that China is unlikely to participate in such a joint mission, as it has carefully planned its own space exploration milestones and has become self-sufficient in developing its capabilities. China's lunar exploration program has made significant progress, including soft landings and a successful sample return mission, while also venturing into Mars exploration. Meanwhile, Russia's space prowess has diminished compared to its Soviet predecessor, and its financial losses due to the ongoing war in Ukraine may hinder any potential collaboration with China.