China aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2030.

China’s Ambitious Plan to Send Astronauts to the Moon by 2030

“We firmly believe that the spring of China’s space science has arrived, and we have the determination, confidence, and ability to resolutely complete the mission,” commander Jing Haipeng said.

China is reaching for the stars with its latest announcement to send astronauts to the moon by 2030. This ambitious effort is part of China’s plan to outshine rival nations and bolster its orbiting space station.

Scientists in China have hinted at this objective before, with a key official in China’s lunar exploration program suggesting that placing a human on the moon would be “no problem.” Now, China’s mission to the moon will feature a “short stay on the lunar surface and human-robotic joint exploration,” according to Deputy Director of the China Manned Space Agency Lin Xiqiang.

This announcement was made at a news conference ahead of China’s plan to blast three astronauts to its space station on Tuesday. This will mark the country’s fifth manned mission to the orbiting craft since 2021.

China’s space program has been constructed against the backdrop of exclusion from the International Space Station due to objections from the U.S. However, China is determined to make its mark in space exploration and is hoping to eventually add a fourth module to its Tiangong space station “at an appropriate time,” according to Lin.

The U.S. is also planning to return to the moon by the end of 2025 and is aiming for a more ambitious trek to Mars by the late 2030s or early 2040s. The space race is heating up once again, and China’s unveiled plans to send astronauts to the moon come amid heightened tensions with the U.S.

What’s Next for China’s Space Program?

• Dispatch astronauts to the moon by 2030
• Bolster the country’s orbiting space station
• Add a fourth module to its Tiangong space station “at an appropriate time”

China’s determination, confidence, and ability to complete this mission is admirable. The world will be watching as China takes its next steps in space exploration.