China sent an astronaut for a year-long space mission to study long-duration human physiology in space; Crucial step in Beijing’s ambition of crewed moon landing by 2030

Yesterday, China launched the Shenzhou-23 spaceflight at 11:08 PM using the Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, with three Chinese astronauts on board.

The crew members include payload specialist Lai Ka-ying (a former Hong Kong police inspector with a doctoral degree in computer forensics), the first astronaut from the city to take part in a Chinese space mission; commander Zhu Yangzhu; and pilot Zhang Zhiyuan.

Among the three astronauts, one will stay on the Tiangong Space Station for a year (one of the longest space missions of China), enabling the study of long-duration human physiology in space. According to the China Manned Space Agency, the astronaut who is supposed to stay will be decided later, depending on the progress of this mission.

This launch is a crucial step as Beijing is said to be working towards its ambition of a crewed moon landing by 2030. The launch comes amid an accelerating race to the moon with the US, which has warned about Beijing’s alleged plans to colonise and mine lunar territory and resources. Though Beijing has denied such claims.

Until its 2030 deadline, NASA will have to develop entirely new hardware and software specific to its lunar mission, proving it is mission-ready. That will ensure its astronauts, used to the relative safety of Tiangong in low-Earth orbit, can safely make the riskier transition to the moon’s surface. Reportedly, the Chinese space agency is training two Pakistani astronauts, one of whom could join an expected mission to Tiangong this year on a short-duration basis.

It is revealed that scientists will study the physiological effects of radiation exposure, bone density loss and psychological stress in space for the extended duration of the Shenzhou-23 mission.

China also plans to establish a permanent base on the moon by 2035 with Russia, if the crewed landing before 2030 becomes successful.

Apart from China, NASA is also seeking to achieve a crewed moon landing in 2028 while the US aims to establish a long-term lunar presence as a stepping stone to eventual human exploration of Mars.

Via.