China's space agency is gearing up to send the Shenzhou-18 crew into low-Earth orbit on Thursday as part of its ambitious space program. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced the three astronauts who will be part of the mission: Commander Ye Guangfu, a veteran astronaut, along with astronauts Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who will be going to space for the first time.
The spacecraft is scheduled for lift-off at 8:59 p.m. (1259 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China's northwest. The crew will relieve the Shenzhou-17 team currently stationed at China's Tiangong space station since last October. The upcoming mission will see the crew spending approximately six months on the space station, conducting scientific tests, installing space debris protection equipment, carrying out payload experiments, and engaging in science education initiatives.
Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, mentioned that China is working towards allowing foreign astronauts and space tourists access to its space station in the future. The country's space station was developed after being excluded from the International Space Station, primarily due to concerns over military involvement.
China's space program has made significant strides over the years, conducting its first manned space mission in 2003 and achieving milestones such as bringing back lunar samples and landing a rover on the far side of the moon. While the U.S. space program maintains a lead in certain aspects, China has demonstrated prowess in various space exploration endeavors.
Looking ahead, the U.S. aims to return astronauts to the moon by the end of 2025, with private sector entities like SpaceX and Blue Origin playing key roles in advancing crewed missions. Currently, four countries - the U.S., Russia, China, and India - have successfully landed spacecraft on the moon, marking significant achievements in space exploration.
