China has initiated an international project to establish a three-dimensional satellite network between Earth and the moon. This network aims to monitor solar activity and investigate powerful cosmic phenomena. The plan includes launching 30 CubeSats, each about the size of a backpack, into highly elliptical orbits over the next four years, led by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory.
The project is set to address a significant gap in the systematic observations of cislunar space, and will involve collaboration with countries such as Egypt, Indonesia, Senegal, Serbia, and Thailand. Additionally, a separate group of CubeSats will be deployed around the moon to search for lunar resources, although specific details about this aspect are still pending.
Cislunar space, which extends from low-Earth orbit to approximately 2 million kilometers (1.2 million miles) from Earth, is considered a new frontier for human activity and crucial for future crewed lunar missions and the construction of lunar bases. Historically, scientists have used individual spacecraft to explore this vast area, leaving many regions uncharted. The new network will enable simultaneous observations, allowing scientists to study energetic particles and magnetic disturbances from the sun, thereby enhancing our understanding of space weather dynamics.
