China and India Working on Spacecraft Technology for Crewed and Automated Moon Exploration
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) prototyping new hydrolox rocket engine for lunar version of ‘New-Generation Manned Launch Vehicle’ / Long March 5DY, with component check, fault detection and ignition tests achieved; Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) advancing Chandrayaan-3 redesign, improving lander legs, sensors and propulsion system, with ongoing testing at ISRO Propulsion Complex in Mahendragiri; China aiming for human Moon landings within 2020’s decade, India 2nd robotic landing attempt likely to occur NET 2023
On track for Q3 landing near Moon South Pole (70.9°S), Chandrayaan-3 may be the first India space mission to take advantage of ESA-operated 35-m (Australia, Argentina, Spain) and 15-m (French Guiana) Estrack antennae as well as 32-m commercial Goonhilly in England, all coordinated by 24/7/365 European Space Operations Centre (Germany); Aditya-L1 solar observatory and Gaganyaan human spaceflight will also utilize Estrack ground stations, as has CNSA during Chang’e mission sequence; In-kind use of ISRO ground stations will be available for future ESA deep space activities 
Speaking to TOI, ISRO Chair S Somanath reiterates commitment to reaching lunar surface NLT year end, claiming place in history as 4th nation with a Moon landing mission after USSR, USA, China; “Final call” on launch date will depend on orbital parameters following craft testing, including drop test / landing simulation to be carried out at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota similar to testing of Chandrayaan-2 in Mahendragiri with 100-m crane / bungee cord used to simulate 1/6 Moon gravity, testing maneuvering; Somanath has also made clear that Chandrayaan-3 will include a stripped-down orbiter in addition to lander and rover, despite early reports that ISRO would forgo orbiter
ISRO intends to launch Chandryaan-3 via GSLV Mk 3 NET August, soft-landing near originally planned Chandryaan-2 site; Area is within southern lunar highlands ~160km from Boguslawsky crater, preferred landing site of Roscosmos Luna-25 aiming for 23 July launch, and ~350km from South Pole-Aitken basin, an area currently being investigated by CNSA Yutu-2 rover from Chang’e-4 mission with sample return planned for Chang’e-6 NET 2024; Spectral analysis from Chandrayaan-1 orbiter indicates site is rich in iron (4.2%), magnesium (5.4%), calcium (10%) and titanium (0.3%)
