China Launches Shenzhou-18 Mission

April 27, 2024

Recently, China launched the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft carrying a three-member crew to its orbiting Tiangong space station. The mission is part of China’s ambitious space program, which aims to put astronauts on the moon by 2030.

The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F rocket at 8:59 p.m. (1259 GMT).
The crew, consisting of Commander Ye Guangfu and fighter pilots Li Cong and Li Guangsu, is expected to reach the space station about six-and-a-half hours after liftoff.

Mission Objectives

During their six-month stay on the Tiangong space station, the Shenzhou-18 crew will:

Conduct scientific tests
Install space debris protection equipment
Carry out payload experiments
Popularize science education

The crew will relieve the Shenzhou-17 team, which has been staffing the space station since October 2023.

China’s Space Station Program

China built its own space station after being excluded from the International Space Station (ISS), largely due to U.S. concerns over the Chinese military’s involvement in the program.

The Tiangong space station is slated for two cargo spacecraft missions and two manned spaceflight missions in 2024.

Future Plans

China is working towards offering access to its space station to foreign astronauts and space tourists in the future. The country also has plans for:

A mission to bring back samples from Mars around 2030
Three lunar probe missions over the next four years
Putting astronauts on the moon by 2030

China’s Space Achievements

China conducted its first crewed space mission in 2003, becoming the third country after the former Soviet Union and the U.S. to put a person into space using its own resources. Since then, China has made significant strides in its space program, including:

Bringing samples back from the lunar surface for the first time in decades
Landing a rover on the less explored far side of the moon

The successful launch of the Shenzhou-18 mission demonstrates China’s growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to establishing a long-term human presence in space.

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