Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab

China has rolled out new details of how the country will attempt a future human Moon mission, targeted for 2030.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) showcased a new video at a Human Space Symposium.

Highlighted by China Central Television (CCTV), the video underscores:

• production of the Long March-10 carrier rocket,
• a piloted spacecraft Mengzhou
• development of the lunar lander Lanyue
• fabrication of a lunar spacesuit
• testing a lunar rover for mobility of two taikonauts

Prototyping hardware

CMSA indicates that prototyping of hardware is progressing as planned, along with related ground tests.

Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab

A series of ground facilities and equipment designed to support these production and testing activities have been completed and put into operation.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China has been prioritized and is advancing smoothly in readiness for handling human sojourns to the Moon.

Prototype work on China’s lunar lander – Lanyue.
Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Self-reliant capability

According to the video, as reported by the Xinhua news agency, China’s crewed lunar landing mission will focus on mastering critical technologies and techniques for human Earth-Moon round trips, short-term stays on the lunar surface, and human-robot collaborative exploration.

CCTV notes that the project seeks to establish a “self-reliant capability” for human lunar exploration.

Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Both robotic and human Moon mission will conduct large-scale space science experiments, with scientists outlining preliminary goals across three key areas: lunar science, lunar base science, and resource exploration and utilization, covering nine major research directions, CCTV reports.

Large scale tests

“Our new rockets, spacecraft, landers, and lunar rovers have already been developed, and prototype products are complete. We are currently conducting large-scale tests, including mechanical, thermal, and electrical tests,” said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s human space program, during the sixth Human Space Symposium a two-day gathering of experts in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province.

China lunar rover testing.
Image credit: CCTV/CMSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab

“By leveraging the development of the manned lunar exploration program,” Zhou told CCTV, “the near-Earth manned rockets and spacecraft are being developed simultaneously. For example, the near-Earth orbit rocket uses the first stage of the lunar landing rocket, and the second stage is quite similar, though it has fewer engines due to its smaller scale. This is currently the best reusable configuration among China’s launch vehicles. It will lead our rocket technology to a new level,” said Zhou.

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

To view the newly released animation, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Bf1wggSMb/