China Sets 3‑Year Goal to Land Astronauts on the Moon
China plans a crewed lunar landing in three years, with two astronauts descending and a third staying aboard, aiming to touch the Moon before 2030.
POLICY WIRE — Beijing, China — China unveiled a detailed plan to send a crewed mission to the Moon within three years, marking a significant step in its lunar ambitions.
Officials outlined a strategy that requires two rocket launches, a precise docking maneuver, and an engine‑assisted soft landing for the lunar lander that will carry two astronauts down to the surface.
The third crew member will remain aboard the Mengzhou spacecraft to support the descent, while the landed astronauts will operate the Tansuo rover to conduct experiments and collect samples.
Wang Xiang, deputy chief designer of the manned space program, emphasized the goal of achieving the first Chinese crewed Moon landing before 2030 and ahead of the United States’ return plans.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
