Quote:Wu Weiren, the chief designer of the lunar exploration program, made the statement in an interview with China Media Group (CMG) prior to the eighth Space Day of China, which fell on Monday this year.

Wu said the Chang'e-6 mission is expected to retrieve lunar soil samples from the far side of the moon in around 2024, which will be first time humankind will collect soil samples from the far side of the earth's natural satellite.

Moon-centered deep space internet

The chief designer also revealed China's plans to construct a moon-centered deep space internet to enhance connectivity and navigation for future spaceflight missions, according to the chief designer.

"We are building a satellite constellation around the moon, a system that can provide communication, navigation, and remote sensing services. After that, we can carry out future deep space exploration," said Wu.

"Afterwards, we will also build a moon-centered deep space internet comprising functions such as communication, navigation, remote sensing, etc. By doing so, we will be able to turn our earth-centered space infrastructure into a moon-centered system that can be extended to a broader scope in the solar system. With the internet, the moon will have access to TV programs, games and the WiFi network. And astronauts will never get bored on the moon," he said.

"The international lunar research station built by China is open (to international partners). We welcome the participation of developed countries such as the United States and European countries. We also hope that BRICS countries and some underdeveloped African countries will join us. We have put forward an initiative for all to sign contracts, deals or strategic agreements of intent," he said.

China formally established its lunar exploration "Project Chang'e" in 2004. In December 2020, the Chang'e-5 lunar probe brought back 1,731 grams of samples from the moon, marking the completion of the three-step lunar exploration program of orbiting, landing and return.

Chicom media

Quote:The year is 2069. After decades of unprecedented technological progress, humanity is on the brink of achieving interplanetary colonization. Against all odds, SpaceX successfully lands astronauts on the Red Planet.

As the astronauts exit their landing module, they make a discovery that will redefine humanity's understanding of our place in the cosmos. Embedded in the rust-red dust, they find ruins of ancient stone structures - columns, archways, even what appears to be remnants of bathhouses and villas.

The architecture appears unmistakably Roman in style. Carbon dating suggests they are at least 2,000 years old. How did such structures end up on a planet humans have never before visited?

The most incredible theory begins to take shape: ancient Romans somehow achieved interplanetary spaceflight, colonizing Mars in antiquity before ultimately losing the ability to reach the Red Planet.

The ruins represent an "outpost" of the Roman Empire, forgotten for millennia...

Colonus Mars