HELSINKI \u2014 An Omani space company has joined China\u2019s effort to build its International Lunar Research Station as Beijing continues efforts to attract partners.<\/p>
Wu Weiren, chief designer of China\u2019s lunar exploration project and head of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), signed a memorandum of understanding with Omani company Oman Lens on the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS<\/a>) Dec. 2.<\/p> The visit to Oman included a visit to the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of Oman (MTCIT), according<\/a> to Chinese AI satellite firm Star.Vision. That company and Oman Lens collaborated on Oman’s advanced, AI-powered optical satellite, OL-1, which launched<\/a> last month on a Chinese Kinetica-1 solid rocket. DSEL, which plays a central role in China\u2019s ILRS diplomacy, has yet to release its own statement on the development. <\/p> Ali al Wahaibi, Oman Lens\u2019 signatory to the memorandum, told<\/a> the Oman Daily Observer that the collaboration is a pivotal step for Oman\u2019s role in lunar research and sustainable space exploration. He added that the ILRS is about pushing boundaries of scientific discovery, innovation and resource utilization.<\/p>