- China has unveiled an AI-powered humanoid robot, developed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), intended for its 2029 Chang’e-8 lunar mission.
- The 100-kilogram robot, featuring a humanoid upper body and a four-wheeled module, will act as a porter to transport and install instruments on the Moon.
- Equipped with artificial intelligence, the robot is designed to identify and trace objects, enabling it to strategise and execute tasks autonomously.
- This robotic deployment precedes China's ambitious goal of sending humans to the lunar surface by 2030, part of its rapidly advancing space programme.
- Meanwhile, the US aims for a crewed lunar return by 2028 with its Artemis IV mission, though it faces potential delays and warnings that it could fall behind China due to technical challenges with SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System.
IN FULL
