China Aims to Send its First Astronauts to the Moon by 2030

China has yet to announce the specific date for its manned space mission. However, it has been reported that the country aims to send its first Chinese astronauts, also known as taikonauts, to the Moon before the year 2030. This information was revealed by China’s state television channel CCTV, as reported by Reuters and CNN.

Furthermore, China is set to begin the coordination and development of its space station within this year as stated by the country’s state media. The Chinese space program, in a press release published recently, confirmed that the development work is advancing well.

Moreover, CNN disclosed on Monday that China’s space agency has already unveiled the names of its future spacecraft. The Chinese spacecraft is named Mengzhou, the lunar lander is called Lanye, and the heavy launch vehicle is named Long. These vessels, constructed by Beijing, are a part of an ambitious program that the country’s administration expects will solidify China’s place as a significant space nation.

While the exact date for its manned mission has not been announced by China, it’s confirmed that it will happen by the year 2030. As per the state media, the Mengzhou spacecraft has a length of nearly nine meters and a weight of 22 tons. The Lanyue lunar lander is reportedly able to hold two astronauts and a 200-kilogram quadcopter.

China’s space agency has allowed the public to suggest names for the ships. The chosen names were among almost 2,000 proposals. The name Lanyue, for instance, first appeared in a poem written by Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China, in 1965. The name is believed to signify the aspiration and confidence of the Chinese in exploring the universe and traveling to the moon.

The name Mengzhou is linked to the Chinese people’s dream of landing on the moon, according to the agency. China’s space program has long been connected to the country’s leader Xi Jinping’s “Chinese dream” to rejuvenate China’s image. Xi is also seeking global prestige and has used Chinese technology to achieve his objectives.