Science & Tech · Space · 1 hr ago
China plans first crewed lunar landing before 2030
At a spaceflight conference in Beijing, Chinese officials outlined progress on the country's plan to land people on the Moon before 2030.
The mission is part of China's lunar exploration program and aims to send astronauts to the Moon for scientific study and technology tests.
China says it must develop the ability to travel between Earth and the Moon, stay briefly on the lunar surface, and conduct exploration with both people and machines.
Earlier this year, China tested a Long March 10 rocket system in a low-altitude demonstration and tested an emergency escape system on the Mengzhou crew spacecraft.
These tests support the wider goal of building an independent crewed lunar exploration capability.
Next, China plans a rocket technology verification flight, the first flights of the Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lander, and the Chang'e 7 mission.
China plans to land its first crewed mission on the Moon before 2030.
The mission aims to carry out lunar science investigations and related technology tests.
China is developing technology for travel between Earth and the Moon, short stays on the lunar surface and human-robot exploration.
Earlier this year, China conducted a low-altitude demonstration and verification test of the Long March-10 rocket system and an escape-flight test of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft system.
The program plans first flights of the Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lander, along with other missions.
- Who
- China’s crewed lunar exploration program.
- What
- China plans to land people on the Moon for the first time and conduct science investigations and technology tests.
- When
- Before 2030.
- Where
- The Moon.
- Why
- To develop an independent crewed lunar exploration capability and test key technologies for lunar missions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China conducted a low-altitude demonstration and verification test of the Long March-10 rocket system and an escape-flight test of the Mengzhou crewed spacecraft system.
China plans to carry out its first crewed lunar landing.
The program plans the first flights of the Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lander, as well as other missions.
- Target
- First crewed lunar landing before 2030
- Rocket
- Long March-10
- Crewed spacecraft
- Mengzhou
- Lander
- Lanyue
- Tested earlier this year
- Long March-10 low-altitude demonstration and verification; Mengzhou maximum dynamic pressure escape flight