China plans first crewed lunar landing before 2030
China plans to achieve its first crewed lunar landing before 2030, Wang Xiang, deputy chief designer of the country's manned space program, said at the Seventh Manned Space Symposium in Beijing on Saturday.
Three astronauts are expected to take part in the mission, with two of them landing on the lunar surface. According to the China Manned Space Agency, work on all tasks related to the lunar landing phase is progressing steadily.
The agency also said the China Space Station will be open to scientists worldwide as a platform for conducting scientific experiments. Key areas of international cooperation will include research, astronaut training, joint flights and science outreach.
The year 2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's space industry and the fourth anniversary of the completion of the China Space Station.
The two-day symposium has brought together more than 800 experts and scholars in Beijing. Participants are discussing how digital and intelligent technologies can advance human spaceflight, as well as the latest engineering practices and future development needs.
The event features 15 sub-forums under three main themes: common technologies for human spaceflight, the crewed space station in low Earth orbit, and lunar exploration missions.
According to CCTV+, the symposium provides a platform for exchanging research findings and discussing the future development of human spaceflight, including preparations for upcoming lunar missions.
