In its ambitious pursuit of lunar exploration by 2030, China’s space agency gears up for the launch of the Shenzhou-18 crew into low-Earth orbit on Thursday. The three astronauts, Commander Ye Guangfu, veteran astronaut from the Shenzhou-13 mission, and first-timers Li Cong and Li Guangsu, will embark on a six-month mission aboard the Tiangong space station. Their mission includes conducting scientific experiments, installing space debris protection equipment, and carrying out various payload experiments.
During a recent press conference, Manned Space Agency (CMSA) deputy director Lin Xiqiang revealed China’s plans to extend access to its space station to international astronauts and space tourists. This move follows China’s exclusion from the International Space Station due to concerns over the People’s Liberation Army’s involvement.
China’s space program has made significant strides since its first manned mission in 2003, becoming the third country to independently launch a human into space. While the U.S. space program still holds a technological edge, China has achieved notable feats, including retrieving lunar samples and successfully landing a rover on the moon’s far side.
The upcoming Shenzhou-18 mission is part of China’s ambitious space station program, which includes two additional manned spaceflight missions and two cargo spacecraft missions this year. This mission builds on China’s growing presence in space and its pursuit of becoming a leading player in space exploration.
