China has launched its Shenzhou-18 spacecraft, marking another significant milestone in its ambitious space program. The spacecraft, carrying a three-member crew, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China on April 25, 2023, and is expected to reach the Tiangong space station six-and-a-half hours after liftoff (1).
This mission is part of China’s strategic plan to put astronauts on the moon by 2030. The Shenzhou-18 crew will relieve the Shenzhou-17 team, which has been staffing the Tiangong space station since October last year (1). The three astronauts, Commander Ye Guangfu, 43, and fighter pilots Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36, are prepared for a six-month stay at the space station (1).
Their mission includes conducting scientific tests, installing space debris protection equipment on the station, carrying out payload experiments, and popularizing science education (1). According to Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), China is also working on offering access to its space station to foreign astronauts and space tourists,, stating that they will “accelerate the research and promotion of the participation of foreign astronauts and space tourists on flights on China’s space station” (1).
China’s space station was built following its exclusion from the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. concerns over the Chinese military’s involvement in the program (1). In 2023, the Chinese station is scheduled for two cargo spacecraft missions and two manned spaceflight missions (1). The Shenzhou-18 crew’s mission is part of a broader series of planned missions, including a Mars sample return mission around 2030 and three lunar probe missions over the next four years (1). China aims to put astronauts on the moon by 2030 (1).
China’s space program has made significant strides over the years. After conducting its first crewed space mission in 2003, China became the third country to put a person into space using its own resources (2). Despite the U.S. space program holding a significant edge over China’s in terms of spending, supply chains, and capabilities (2), China has excelled in certain areas, such as bringing samples back from the lunar surface for the first time in decades and landing a rover on the less explored far side of the moon (2).
In conclusion, China’s space program shows no signs of slowing down, with the Shenzhou-18 mission representing another critical step in its ambitious plans. From its orbiting space station to its intent to put astronauts on the moon by 2030, China continues to position itself as a significant player in the global space race.
Sources:
1. “China launches three-person crew to space station.” Associated Press. April 25, 2023.
2. “China’s space program is advancing fast. But it still can’t compete with the US.” The Washington Post. March 15, 2023.
