China aims to establish a permanent presence on the Moon through its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project. This initiative, started in 2021 by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in partnership with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, seeks to transform the Moon into an advanced scientific research and technological development platform.
Unlike previous missions focused on exploration and sampling, the ILRS focuses on establishing a permanent base for longer missions and more in-depth exploration. Several countries, including Venezuela, South Africa, and Pakistan, have expressed their interest in participating in this project, thus providing diverse financial resources and scientific expertise.
However, China wants to ensure the safety of its future station by developing an advanced surveillance system, named Skynet 2.0, based on cameras equipped with artificial intelligence. This initiative aims to autonomously identify, locate, and monitor suspicious activities around the lunar base. With the advent of reconnaissance satellites, space espionage has become a major issue, offering nations the ability to monitor the activities of their rivals with unprecedented precision.
The Chinese video surveillance project illustrates this, intending to install hundreds of cameras to continuously monitor the future lunar base. Inspired by the experience of China's Skynet video surveillance system, this initiative relies on cameras equipped with artificial intelligence-controlled processors, capable of detecting and reacting to suspicious events.
However, this technical deployment poses major challenges, particularly in terms of resistance to the extreme conditions of the Moon and securing communications against hacking. Chinese researchers highlight the necessity for robust encryption techniques to preserve data integrity in space.
As humanity embarks on the potential colonization of the Moon, rivalries between terrestrial nations persist, transforming space into a strategic theater where security and technological superiority are priorities. The Chinese video surveillance project on the Moon thus reflects China's ambitions in the space race and raises questions about the balance between security and surveillance.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND