China Successfully Launches Three Astronauts to Tiangong Space Station, Marks Historic First with Civilian on Board, Sets Sights on Moon Mission by 2030.
Image Courtesy: The Economic Times
China achieved a significant milestone on Tuesday as it launched three astronauts to its Tiangong space station, marking the first time a civilian has been sent into orbit. The ambitious move is part of China's broader objective to conduct a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030, as it seeks to narrow the gap with space superpowers like the United States and Russia. With substantial investments in its military-led space program, the world's second-largest economy has dedicated billions of dollars to its space endeavors.
The Shenzhou-16 crew, led by commander Jing Haipeng on his fourth mission, along with engineer Zhu Yangzhu and Beihang University professor Gui Haichao, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China at 9:31 a.m. (0301 IMT). After a successful launch, the astronauts docked at the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station in the afternoon, approximately six hours later. Zou Lipeng, director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, reported that the launch went smoothly, labeling it a "complete success" and confirming that the astronauts were in good health.
China's space program has reached remarkable achievements, including the successful deployment of robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. Tiangong serves as the centerpiece of their space ambitions, signifying their growing prowess and dedication to advancing human space exploration.
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