China announced Thursday that it remains firmly on track to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, while also unveiling the next crew set to travel to its Tiangong space station. The move underscores Beijing’s ambition to establish itself as a global leader in space exploration.
“Currently, each program of the research and development work of putting a person on the moon is progressing smoothly,” said Zhang Jingbo, spokesman for the China Manned Space Program. He highlighted progress on the Long March 10 rocket, lunar landing suits, and an exploration vehicle, calling them key milestones toward the mission. “Our fixed goal of China landing a person on the moon by 2030 is firm.”
Alongside its lunar ambitions, China is preparing to launch its latest astronaut rotation to the Tiangong station. The new crew — Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang — will depart from the Jiuquan launch center on Friday at 11:44 p.m. local time. Zhang Lu previously served on the Shenzhou 15 mission, while Wu and Zhang Hongzhang will be making their first journeys into space.
The astronauts will also bring four mice, two male and two female, to study the effects of weightlessness and confinement on living organisms during their six-month stay aboard the station.
China began building the Tiangong, or “Heavenly Palace,” after being excluded from the International Space Station due to US national security concerns over the Chinese program’s ties to the People’s Liberation Army. Today, Tiangong stands as a centerpiece of China’s broader space strategy, with lunar exploration now firmly in its sights.
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