Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space

China plans to send astronauts to the Moon before 2030.

That’s the word from an official with the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Monday, just prior to the country lofting a new crew to their space station.

The statement by Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, came during a media briefing on China’s next piloted space mission, Shenzhou-16.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Independent Moon exploration capability

Lin said that China has recently initiated the “landing phase” of its human lunar exploration program, putting in motion the relevant research and development steps, including the construction of a new launch site, a crew-carrying booster, developing a lunar lander and also requisite Moon-walking suits.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

“Recently, the Moon-landing phase of China’s manned lunar exploration program has been started,” Lin told reporters. “The main goal is to send Chinese astronauts to land on the Moon for the first time by 2030. The goal also includes carrying out lunar scientific exploration and related technological experiments, mastering key technologies such as Earth-Moon manned round-trip, lunar surface short-term stay, and human-robot joint exploration as well as completing multiple missions such as landing, roving, sampling, researching and returning, so as to form an independent manned lunar exploration capability,” said Lin in a China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Long March-10

Relevant preparations have been in full swing, according to Lin.

“Focusing on this goal, the CMSA has started planning, research and construction work on the basis of previous key technical breakthroughs and solution verifications. This includes the development of a next-generation manned carrier rocket, namely the Long March-10 carrier rocket, a next-gen manned spacecraft, a lunar lander, a moon suit and other spaceflight products. The construction of a new launch site and tests on related launch facilities are also underway,” Lin added.

International Lunar Research Station. Image credit: China National Space Administration

Lin concluded by noting that, in the future, China intends to strengthen scientific management, selections based on competition, and open up cooperation “while steadily advancing various research and development work to achieve China’s goal for lunar landing as scheduled,” he said.

For a CCTV video focused on China’s Moon exploration plans, go to:

https://youtu.be/FZnlhapFJdk

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