China announces moon landings by 2030

Deputy Director of the Manned Space Flight Program Administration (CMSA) Lin Xiqiang confirmed China plans to land taikonauts on the moon by 2030. about a month ago informed Weiren Wu, one of the leaders of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP).

Lin also added that China plans to expand its orbital manned space station with an additional module. And a new crew of three should go to the Tiangong station on Tuesday, May 30 on board ship Shenzhou 16 - he will briefly join the company of three other taikonauts already on board.

The new crew for the first time includes a civilian - Gui Haichao, a professor at the leading Beijing Institute of Aerospace Research. All previous crew members served in the country's army.

In November, China completed the construction of the Tiangong space station, connecting the third module. The country is now considering establishing permanent crewed bases on the Moon. Given similar plans for the United States, experts believe that disputes over rights and interests on the lunar surface will soon begin.

US legislation severely limits cooperation between the space programs of the two countries, and although China says it welcomes foreign cooperation, which has so far been limited to scientific research.

Recall that in plans NASA sending astronauts to the Moon on the Orion spacecraft in 2024 without landing, and landing is planned for 2025.