China has made remarkable progress in 2024 in space, especially in pursuing its dream of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030.
On May 3, China successfully launched its latest lunar probe, the Chang’e-6, aiming to bring back 2 kilograms of samples from the far side of the moon, which humans have never done before. History was made on June 25 as the returner of the Chang’e-6 landed in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The samples, weighting 1,935.3 grams, have helped scientists unveil more mysteries of the moon. The latest study was published in Nature on December 19, which shows that the moon’s magnetic field experienced a surprising resurgence in strength 2.8 billion years ago, following a significant decline around 3.1 billion years ago.
This discovery challenges the prevailing theory that the lunar dynamo remained in a low-energy state after its earlier weakening.
Besides the moon landing plan by 2030, China is also set to construct an international lunar research station (ILRS) with a network linking the moon’s south pole, equator and far side.
The ILRS, a scientific experimental facility consisting of sections on the lunar surface, in lunar orbit and on Earth, is projected to be built in two phases: a basic model to be built by 2035 in the lunar south pole region, and an extended model to be built by about 2050.
Remarkable achievements in manned space program
While pursuing its dreams towards the moon, China has also made significant achievements in its manned space program with four successful missions this year.
On January 17, the Tianzhou-7 cargo spacecraft blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China’s island province of Hainan. It delivered about 5.6 tonnes of supplies, such as necessities and devices for experiments to the China Space Station for the back then in-orbit Shenzhou-17 crew and the subsequent Shenzhou-18 crew.
About three month later, the Shenzhou-18 manned mission was launched on April 25. The crew had two spacewalks. On one of them, they set a new record for the longest single spacewalk by Chinese astronauts at 8.5 hours. The Shenzhou-18 crew returned landed on earth after about six months on the space station.
The Shenzhou-19 crew waves to the crowd at a send-off ceremony, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China, October 30, 2024. /CFP
On October 30, the Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, sending the country’s youngest trio crew – with two astronauts born in 1990 – to its space station.
The crew, who successfully completed a record-breaking nine-hour spacewalk on December 17, is currently in orbit and scheduled to return to earth after a six-month stay.
The last mission of China manned space program this year was Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft launched on November 15. The Tianzhou-8 delivered supplies for the Shenzhou-19 and the future Shenzhou-20 crews, including their daily essentials, scientific experiment materials, consumables for environmental control, as well as personalized gifts for the astronauts.
China will conduct three missions in 2025 for its manned space program – the Shenzhou-20 and the Shenzhou-21 manned mission and the launch of the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft.
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