The International Deep Space Exploration Association (IDSEA), a new global academic body focused on deep space exploration, was officially inaugurated on Monday in Hefei, the capital city of east China’s Anhui Province.
This initiative marks a significant milestone in enhancing international cooperation in space technology and reflects the broader goal of building a shared future for humanity in outer space.
IDSEA was co-founded by several leading organizations, including the Hefei-based Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration, the Chinese Society of Astronautics, the Chinese Society of Space Research, and the French-led “Planetary Exploration, Horizon 2061.” Its formation was also supported by 20 Chinese academicians and 31 international scientists.
Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar exploration project and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has been appointed as the association’s first chairman.
Wu emphasized that the association’s formation is a major step forward for global collaboration in space research and will strengthen China’s role in international space cooperation and innovation.
He noted that the association will prioritize key areas such as lunar and planetary exploration and asteroid defense. It will also study trends in global deep space missions, organize academic events, nurture global talent, help set standards for space governance, and promote peaceful, sustainable space use.
Wu warmly invited scientists and engineers from around the world to join the association and contribute to humanity’s pursuit of space exploration.
Although China entered the field of space exploration later than some nations, it has quickly become a major force and remains committed to fostering international partnerships.
In April 2025, China announced that it had authorized institutions from six countries, France, Germany, Japan, Pakistan, the UK, and the US, to borrow lunar samples from the Chang’e-5 mission for scientific study.
China has also extended invitations to foreign collaborators for its Mars exploration programs. Its upcoming Tianwen-3 mission, expected to launch around 2028, aims to return samples from Mars and search for signs of life.
This Mars sample-return mission, a first in human history, is viewed as one of the most technically complex undertakings in space since the Apollo missions.
Related Posts?
China urges global unity for peaceful utilization of outer space
