Chief designer on China's exploration of moon's south pole

Temperature and light conditions at the Moon's south pole are suitable for long-term human presence, and even for the exploration into deeper space, said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration project, in an interview with China Central Television in Tunxi of Anhui in east China on Thursday.

During a two-day space conference held in Tunxi, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and its counterpart in Senegal signed an agreement on International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) cooperation during the conference.

The ILRS project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will see a basic facility built by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, while the second phase aims to establish a network connecting the Moon's south pole, equator and far side by 2050.

Wu, who is also director and chief scientist of Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL), said that the temperature and light are adequate for human exploration at the Moon's south pole.

"The Moon revolves around the Earth, and the Earth revolves around the Sun, which inevitably has a rotation angle. From that angle, the Sun might shine on the south pole of the Moon for a long time. This is similar to the polar day and night phenomena we see on the Earth, which occur in both the Antarctic and Arctic regions on the Earth. The same phenomena also happen to both poles of the Moon. According to scientists' deduction, or based on our international counterparts' previous long-time scientific exploration, we should strive to have people go up to the Moon in a short term. Then we could see whether there is water in the permanent shadow pits there. If we can find water molecules and direct evidence of the existence of water ice on the Moon, it will be amazing. That will pave the way for humans to stay on the Moon for a long time and even lay a foundation for humankind to reach farther deep space from the Moon, such as Mars or other planets. That would be surely great," Wu said.

The ILRS initiative, officially launched by the CNSA in 2017, has garnered international interest, with more than 40 institutions from around the world already signing agreements for cooperation with China.

Chief designer on China's exploration of moon's south pole

Truck drivers and their cargoes sought refuge in a Shanghai activity hub as Typhoon Bebinca, the strongest typhoon to hit the city in decades, made landfall on Monday morning, unleashing heavy rains and winds exceeding 160 kilometers per hour.

In the Pudong District, situated on the southeastern tip of Shanghai, the impact of Typhoon Bebinca was stark, with trees and road signs uprooted, construction sites disrupted, and bicycles scattered across the ground.

Shanghai is not prone to strong typhoons, but local authorities have made emergency plans.

In Lingang Special Area, an activity hub was transformed into a temporary shelter for over 130 truck drivers and their cargoes.

"With such strong winds, it's not safe to park my truck on the street. Trees could fall. Parking here is a safer choice. The service is good here. It's clean, and it also provides food. We can take a shower here," said Wang Shaodong, a truck driver from east China's Anhui Province.

"The Donghai Bridge has been closed, as the typhoon is approaching. That's why we came here. They provide us with bedding, and air conditioners were turned on. So we are staying here. There are also meals downstairs," said Gong Xiangge, a hazardous cargo driver from east China's Shandong Province.

"We call these truck drivers 'men living on wheels.' The 13th typhoon [of this year] brought gales, with maximum wind speed reaching 36.9 meters per second, so danger may come at any time. So staying on the side of the street is unsafe for both trucks and drivers," said Fan Jianrong, deputy director of Lingang Special Area Investment Holding Group.

Although traffic resumed on all roads and bridges across Shanghai starting from 20:00 on Monday, precautions are still in place as Typhoon Pulasan, the 14th of the year, has formed in the northeastern Pacific and could follow a similar path to Typhoon Bebinca.

The director of the center said that the shelter remains open to those in need, ensuring that assistance is readily available for individuals affected by the poor weather.

Truck drivers seek shelter as powerful typhoon hits Shanghai