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The next frontier of human exploration isn’t just about reaching the Moon—it’s about building the systems that will allow us to thrive there. As both governments and private companies push to establish a lasting presence on the lunar surface, one of the greatest technical challenges is maintaining seamless communication, navigation, and surveillance over the vast distance that separates Earth and its natural satellite. In response to this, Chinese scientists have proposed a bold and transformative solution: an “information superhighway” stretching between the two worlds.
The Vision: A Network Spanning Two Worlds
A team of researchers from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering recently laid out a comprehensive roadmap in Chinese Space Science and Technology for building infrastructure that connects Earth to the Moon. The centerpiece of the plan is a constellation of 30 satellites, supported by three lunar ground stations. This space-based network would deliver continuous real-time communication, precise positioning, and advanced monitoring services across cislunar space.
One of the standout features of this proposed network is its communication capacity. It would allow over 20 users—be they astronauts, robotic explorers, or spacecraft—to simultaneously exchange high-resolution images, audio, and video with Earth. This connectivity is vital for both routine operations and emergencies on the Moon.
In addition to communication, the system would serve as a kind of lunar GPS. It aims to deliver positioning accuracy within 10 meters (33 feet) on the Moon’s surface, and within 50 meters (164 feet) during Earth-Moon transit—crucial for navigation and safety in this remote frontier.
The proposed infrastructure would also include a powerful surveillance capability. It could detect and track moving targets as small as one meter in diameter in cislunar space, helping to avoid collisions and manage the growing risk of space debris or uncooperative objects.
The project is envisioned to unfold in three phases, gradually expanding from initial support for China’s upcoming lunar missions to a fully integrated system that could aid exploration all the way to Jupiter and beyond.
Why Cislunar Space Matters
Cislunar space—the vast expanse encompassing Earth’s orbit, the Moon’s orbit, and everything in between—is rapidly emerging as a strategic domain. Scientific interest in lunar geology and resource extraction (like mining for water ice or rare elements) is dovetailing with military and commercial concerns. Nations recognize that controlling or operating within this space will shape future dominance in space exploration.
The United States has already begun pursuing its own capabilities in this realm with initiatives like the Cislunar Highway Patrol System, designed to track and identify objects at distances beyond traditional satellite detection ranges. Europe and Japan have proposed similar efforts, although none have yet matched the scale of China’s newly proposed infrastructure.
The U.S. Air Force, for instance, is developing a Cislunar Highway Patrol System to monitor objects at lunar distances, while NASA, the European Space Agency, and Japan’s JAXA are proposing infrastructure to support lunar missions. Against this backdrop, China’s roadmap outlines a phased development approach. In its first stage, a basic system of satellites and a lunar control station will support robotic and human exploration missions. The second stage expands this into a more capable network with higher data rates and better positional accuracy. The final stage culminates in a fully integrated system with high-bandwidth data transfer, precise navigation, and the ability to support deep space missions.
China’s vision reflects a clear strategic calculation. As the country prepares for crewed Moon landings, the development of an International Lunar Research Station, and even deep space missions to the outer solar system, a robust space backbone is essential. Yang Mengfei, chief designer of the Chang’e-5 lunar mission, emphasized the urgency: “The competition for resources like orbital slots and radio frequencies is already on… China must act now to avoid repetitive construction and optimize resources.”
Global Context: Collaboration or Competition?
China’s plan arrives at a moment when multiple space powers are ramping up their lunar ambitions. NASA’s Artemis program is on track to land astronauts on the Moon by 2026, supported by its LunaNet architecture, a system designed to provide similar communications and navigation capabilities. Meanwhile, private giants like SpaceX and Blue Origin are laying their own groundwork for lunar logistics and transportation.
Despite the shared momentum, the path forward is far from straightforward. Constructing infrastructure in cislunar space will require innovations in long-distance autonomous systems, ultra-fast data transmission, and sustainable energy supply. Equally pressing are questions of governance. With no comprehensive international legal framework governing lunar space, will countries coordinate their efforts, or will the Moon become the next arena for geopolitical rivalry?
Implications for the Future
The success of this information superhighway could have profound consequences across scientific, economic, and exploratory domains.
From a scientific standpoint, robust communication and navigation capabilities would vastly improve our ability to conduct long-term lunar research. Scientists could remotely operate equipment, receive real-time data, and even manage autonomous labs from Earth.
Economically, the infrastructure could enable commercial ventures—from lunar tourism to resource mining—that rely on safe and reliable operations. Accurate navigation and continuous communication would be essential for both human and robotic missions.
Finally, this network could serve as a springboard for deeper space missions. With its capability to track spacecraft across distances approaching 900 million kilometers (559 million miles), the system could support missions to Mars, Jupiter, or even more distant destinations, effectively laying the groundwork for interplanetary expansion.
The Road Ahead
The path to realizing this vision won’t be easy. Each phase of China’s plan demands major advancements—such as boosting data transmission speeds to 10 gigabytes per second and tracking non-cooperative objects over immense distances. The infrastructure will also need to accommodate international compatibility, should future collaboration arise. At the same time, political tensions may hamper joint efforts, increasing the risk of fragmented and duplicative systems.
Still, the urgency is real. As space becomes increasingly accessible, the Moon is shifting from a symbolic destination to a critical node in humanity’s broader expansion into the solar system. Projects like China’s Earth-Moon information superhighway signal that the era of lunar infrastructure is no longer in the realm of science fiction—it is under construction
