China’s Space Agency Sends New Crew to Tiangong Space Station as Part of Moon Landing Mission

In a major development for China’s space program, the country’s space agency announced on Wednesday that a new crew will be sent to the Tiangong space station as part of its ongoing efforts to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030. The Shenzhou-18 mission, set to launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Thursday, will feature three astronauts, including Commander Ye Guangfu, a fighter pilot and astronaut who was part of the Shenzhou-13 mission in 2021.

Accompanying him on their first space mission will be Li Cong and Li Guangsu. Commander Ye expressed confidence in completing the mission and called it a “new beginning.” Li Guangsu shared his excitement about seeing the beauty of Earth from space and expressed a desire to see the stars twinkle for his son.

The astronauts will conduct experiments in orbit for six months, including gravity and physics experiments, biological sciences, and a high-resolution global greenhouse gas detection project. The Tiangong space station, meaning “heavenly palace,” is a key component of China’s space program, which also includes missions to Mars and the Moon.

China has made significant investments in its space program under President Xi Jinping, with plans to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2030 and establish a base on the lunar surface. This latest announcement marks another important step forward in achieving these ambitious goals.