What’s new: China aims to land its astronauts on the moon for the first time by 2030, the China Manned Space Engineering Office announced Monday, as the country seeks to strengthen its presence in the space race with other major powers.
Alongside this objective, the country has set 2030 targets to master key technologies such as crewed round-trip travel between Earth and the moon, short-term habitation on the lunar surface, and joint human-machine exploration, the office’s deputy director Lin Xiqiang said at a press conference.
Lin said that preparations are underway, including developing a new crewed spacecraft and lunar landers as well as relevant testing of a new launch site.
Follow-up efforts will be made in scientific management, open cooperation, construction and other aspects to “ensure that the goal of landing Chinese people on the moon will be achieved on schedule,” he added.
The background: China has ramped up its space ambitions in recent years, establishing the lunar exploration program in 2004 and launching several missions since then as it moves toward becoming a major space power by 2030.
Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, told state media in November that China plans to establish a remote lunar base, potentially powered by nuclear energy, around 2028, two years ahead of the scheduled crewed moon landing.
Contact reporter Wang Xintong (xintongwang@caixin.com) and editor Leila Hashemi (leilahashemi@caixin.com)
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