China has recently sent its first crewed Tiangong space station mission with three astronauts to live in the facility for three months. This is a significant step for the Chinese space program as it builds its own space station after being excluded from the International Space Station due to US objections over its close ties with the People’s Liberation Army. The country has also recently landed its first spacecraft on Mars and is planning to send its first crewed mission to the planet by 2033. China’s ambitious space program includes developing a fleet of reusable rockets, creating a space station and landing missions to the moon.
China has also revealed plans to build the International Lunar Research Station, its first crewed lunar mission, with a preliminary plan to construct it in the 2030s. This lunar base will have partners and a permanent presence on the moon. China aims to send an uncrewed spacecraft to Mars in the near future.
The Chinese Manned Space Agency’s ambitions in space exploration have been a source of concern for the US, especially as international cooperation in space exploration was discussed by Chinese officials and the head of Russia’s Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities. NASA warned in 2020 of “serious risks associated with any significant Chinese expansion” into international Moon operations. However, China has invited international partners to join the construction of the lunar station and has proposed the signing of contracts, deals, or strategic agreements of intent.
Under the Biden administration, NASA is returning to a program of manned missions into space with the Artemis program aiming to land US astronauts on the Moon again by 2024. It also has a long-term plan to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon. China plans to land on the south pole of the moon by the end of 2025 and to establish the International Lunar Research Station by the 2030s.
China’s space contractor, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), has already launched an upgraded crew spacecraft on an uncrewed mission and is planning a new rocket to be tested in 2027. While some of the engine’s failed, leading to the two-stage heavy-lift launch vehicle self-destructing, this is providing crucial data to inform improvements to this technology. SpaceX’s Starship prototype also suffered a failed test flight, leading to an ongoing investigation that has grounded Starship’s pending investigation.
China’s space ambitions are significant, with the country aiming to be a significant presence in space exploration. Competition with the US may be a factor, with both countries aiming for lunar and Mars exploration and establishing permanent human presence on these planets. International partnerships and cooperation in space exploration, particularly with China, will be crucial as there are concerns about the potential risks associated with any significant Chinese expansion in space operations.
