Beijing, China – Web Desk: China has achieved another major milestone in its ambitious lunar exploration program after successfully launching the Shenzhou 23 mission carrying three astronauts into Earth’s orbit.
The mission is considered a key step in China’s plan to send astronauts to the Moon before 2030 and eventually establish a long-term scientific presence on the lunar surface.
According to Chinese officials, one astronaut aboard the mission will spend a full year in orbit aboard the Tiangong Space Station to study the long-term effects of microgravity on the human body.
The experiment is expected to play an important role in preparing for future crewed missions to the Moon and potentially Mars.
The crew was launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.
The astronauts will conduct multiple scientific experiments and research projects while stationed in orbit.
Chinese space authorities have not yet revealed which astronaut will remain aboard the station for the extended one-year mission.
Typically, astronauts aboard the Tiangong station remain in orbit for around six months before being replaced by a new crew.
The Shenzhou-23 mission forms part of China’s broader strategy to become a leading global space power and expand its human spaceflight capabilities.
China is also preparing to test the next-generation Mengzhou spacecraft in 2026. The spacecraft is expected to eventually replace the current Shenzhou capsules and transport Chinese astronauts to the Moon.
Beijing additionally aims to complete the first phase of a scientific base on the lunar surface by 2035.
In another significant development, China is expected to send its first foreign astronaut to the Tiangong space station later this year. The astronaut will be from Pakistan, marking a historic milestone in Pakistan-China space cooperation.
