China plans to send humans to the Moon by 2030. — CCTV Video News Agency/YouTube
China's Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has reported on the progress of preparations for its first-ever crewed lunar mission, scheduled for 2030.
Through this highly ambitious program, China aims to achieve unprecedented scientific and technological advances, starting with crewed Earth-Moon round trips and short stays to explore the satellite's surface.
In terms of equipment, without going into detail, the Chinese agency plans to deploy rovers to help the crew get around, as well as robots to assist them in their research. In addition, the program aims to carry out a number of large-scale scientific experiments, in a research unit installed at the lunar base, while also exploring and using lunar resources.
Programs to develop the launcher, the spacecraft (Mengzhou) and the lunar lander are all underway. The same goes for spacesuits adapted to lunar conditions, and rovers. Ground tests are already underway. The mission, scheduled for 2030 at the latest, is due to leave from the Wenchang launch base in southern China.
China is not the only country that's on a mission to go to the Moon. Initially scheduled for 2025, NASA's Artemis III mission – the first to send humans to the Moon in over 50 years – is set to be delayed by various complications in the development of both the space capsule and the astronauts' suits.
As such, the crew of the next lunar mission is unlikely to take off before 2027 or 2028. For its part, the European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed that it is aiming for 2031 for its first mission to the Moon's surface. – AFP Relaxnews
