China To Launch New Crewed Mission Into Space This Week

AFP/APP

Beijing: China is set to launch its next crewed space mission in the coming days, marking another milestone in Beijing’s long-term plan to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and establish a permanent lunar base.

The upcoming Shenzhou-20 mission will carry three astronauts aboard a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China to the country’s Tiangong space station, where the crew is expected to spend about six months conducting scientific experiments.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said the spacecraft and launch vehicle have already been moved to the launch pad, with all facilities and equipment in good condition ahead of liftoff.

“Functional inspections and joint tests will be carried out as planned,” the agency said, adding that the mission will launch at an appropriate time in the near future.

Chinese authorities have yet to announce the identities of the three astronauts or provide details of the experiments planned during the mission.

State broadcaster CCTV quoted astronaut training centre official Zhou Wenxing as saying the crew had completed preparations and was “in good condition, precise in operation and smooth in coordination.”

The mission forms part of China’s rapidly expanding space programme, which has made significant progress in recent years through the operation of the Tiangong space station and preparations for future lunar exploration.