China intends to use artificial intelligence to monitor the international lunar station

China will operate the national Tanfan system's artificial intelligence video monitoring technology to permanently monitor conditions around the international lunar station it plans to establish.

The Chinese newspaper South China Morning Post, citing the Chinese National Space Administration, said: “The establishment and investment of the optical monitoring system for the International Lunar Station can be based on the successful experience of the Chinese Skynet Project.” According to the Chinese Space Administration, organizing video surveillance at lunar facilities is necessary to ensure the effective work of space facilities.

It is noteworthy that the Chinese Skynet Project is the world's largest network of video cameras equipped with artificial intelligence, and this project includes 600 million optical devices for video monitoring. This system allows a person to be identified based on his facial features and gait using artificial intelligence.

Chinese experts plan to deploy several small-sized optical and infrared cameras weighing 100 grams, which will be equipped with artificial intelligence chips. Its expected working life will be 10 years, and it will be able to withstand temperature fluctuations from 100 degrees Celsius above zero to 180 degrees Celsius below zero, as well as confronting the stream of cosmic rays.

It is noteworthy that video cameras can identify suspicious objects, determine their location, and track their movements. If any anomaly is detected, the system immediately issues an alert signal and takes appropriate measures. 

It is noteworthy that in March 2021, China and the Russian space corporation Roscosmos signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in the field of establishing the international lunar station. As part of the implementation of the lunar program, China will send to the moon 3 automatic stations that will experiment with pivotal technologies, which will later allow the start of the construction of an experimental lunar complex that can be controlled remotely. The first space mission will be sent to the moon in 2026, and the project is planned to be completed by 2028. Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, the Asia-Pacific Cooperation Organization, Azerbaijan, and the Swiss company Nano-SPACE have joined the project.