JIUQUAN SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER, China. China has launched its youngest-ever crew into orbit as part of its ambitious goal to put astronauts on the moon before 2030. The Shenzhou 17 spacecraft took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China, atop a Long March 2-F rocket at 11:14 a.m. (0314 GMT).
The China Manned Space Agency reports that the three-member crew has an average age of 38, making them the youngest crew since the beginning of the space station construction mission. This mission highlights China’s desire to achieve lunar exploration milestones and compete with the United States for supremacy in space exploration, technology, and diplomacy.
The crew, consisting of Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin, will replace the previous team that has spent six months on the space station. Tang Hongbo, a veteran astronaut, previously led a three-month space mission in 2021. During their mission, the new crew will conduct experiments in space medicine, space technology, and various other fields. They will also be responsible for installing and maintaining equipment both inside and outside the space station.
China has also announced plans to send a new telescope into space to explore the universe further, although no specific timeframe has been provided for its installation. This move is part of China’s broader efforts to lead in space exploration and scientific research.
China’s own space station project was initiated after being excluded from the International Space Station, primarily due to concerns from the United States about the involvement of the People’s Liberation Army, the military branch of the ruling Communist Party. China’s first manned space mission in 2003 made it the third country, following the former Soviet Union and the U.S., to send astronauts into space using its own resources.
While the United States currently holds an advantage in terms of spending, supply chains, and capabilities, China has made significant strides in various areas, including bringing lunar samples back to Earth and landing a rover on the far side of the moon. The U.S. is also actively working on sending astronauts back to the moon by the end of 2025, with the involvement of private sector companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Both China and the United States have made significant achievements in space exploration, including landing rovers on Mars, and China has plans to follow the U.S. by landing a spacecraft on an asteroid. The competition and cooperation between these two nations in space exploration continue to shape the future of space science and technology.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
