{"id":1067,"date":"2026-05-25T03:40:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/05\/25\/china-launches-year-long-orbital-mission-with-moon-ambitions-videos\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T03:40:04","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T03:40:04","slug":"china-launches-year-long-orbital-mission-with-moon-ambitions-videos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=1067","title":{"rendered":"China launches year-long orbital mission with Moon ambitions (VIDEOS)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beijing says it is \u201cnot competing\u201d with Washington, despite racing to land astronauts on the Moon before 2030<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Three Chinese astronauts have successfully reached the Tiangong space station, with one of them set to spend more than a year in orbit in another step in Beijing\u2019s preparations for a future lunar landing.<\/p>\n

The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft launched aboard a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert late Sunday.<\/p>\n

Less than four hours later, following a rapid rendezvous and docking process, the crew, led by Commander Zhu Yangzhu, successfully reached the Tiangong space station, whose name translates as \u201cHeavenly Palace.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

China launched three astronauts to the Tiangong space station aboard Shenzhou-23, with one expected to stay for up to a year, marking one of its longest missions https:\/\/t.co\/s6HLiJW0Dj<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VBnipDTB8k<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Reuters (@Reuters) May 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Former Air Force pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, a former Hong Kong police officer and the first person from the city to travel to space, were welcomed by the outgoing Shenzhou-22 team.<\/p>\n

\n

After a 3.5-hour flight, Shenzhou-23 docked with the China Space Station at 18:45UTC https:\/\/t.co\/7V9RJU8BBm<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/safcfvjErg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 CNSPACE (@CNSpaceflight) May 24, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The astronauts are expected to spend around six months aboard the orbital station, carrying out scientific experiments, maintenance work, and spacewalks. One crew member is set to stay twice as long to complete China\u2019s first year-long mission in orbit.<\/p>\n

\n

Shenzhou-21 crew opened the hatch to welcome Shenzhou-23, marking China’s 8th “space reunion” and the first time a Hong Kong astronaut joins the Tiangong family. pic.twitter.com\/KlVF0tU1Mg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shanghai Daily (@shanghaidaily) May 25, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) said the Tiangong space station plays a key role in Beijing\u2019s plans to place two astronauts on the Moon before 2030.<\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"Artemis
America heads back to the Moon. But there\u2019s a big problem<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The orbital outpost helps provide long-duration spaceflight experience and allows China to test technologies needed for future lunar missions, agency spokesman Zhang Jingbo said. He added that the new Long March-10A rocket and the Mengzhou crew spacecraft will carry out a series of flights to Tiangong over the next two years to verify systems required for crewed Moon landings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe carry out the project of crewed lunar exploration under the established plan. We are not competing with other countries in space,\u201d<\/em> said the agency\u2019s senior engineer Zhou Yaqiang. \u201cWhen Chinese astronauts land on the Moon in the future, this will be a great feat for all of humanity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n Read more<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n \"RT
Russia sets timeline for power station on the Moon<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Humans have not landed on the Moon since NASA\u2019s Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The US sent a crew on a flyby earlier this year as part of its Artemis program, but Beijing is seeking to challenge Washington\u2019s efforts to become the first to establish a permanent lunar presence.<\/p>\n

Moscow and Beijing have expanded cooperation in space in recent years, agreeing to establish a joint data center for lunar and deep-space exploration focused on the Moon and Mars. In 2021, the two countries announced the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, with Russia seeking to build a power station on the Moon to provide energy for the base within the next decade.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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