Chinese astronaut to spend a full year in orbit as Beijing ramps up Moon race
Summary
China is launching a three-person space mission called Shenzhou-23 to its Tiangong space station, with one astronaut set to stay in orbit for a full year. This year-long mission aims to study the effects of long spaceflights on humans as part of China’s plan to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030.Key Facts
- The Shenzhou-23 mission will launch from the Jiuquan launch center using a Long March 2-F rocket.
- Three astronauts will go to the Tiangong space station, including Li Jiaying from Hong Kong, who is flying to space for the first time.
- One astronaut will remain in orbit for a full year to study the effects of long space stays on the human body.
- The crew will conduct scientific experiments in life sciences, materials science, fluid physics, and medicine.
- China has sent astronauts to Tiangong for six-month stays since 2021, but this mission extends the stay to a year.
- The long mission helps China prepare for future Moon and Mars missions, addressing issues like bone loss, muscle wasting, radiation, and psychological effects.
- China plans to replace the Shenzhou spacecraft with the new Mengzhou spacecraft by 2026 for future lunar flights.
- Beijing aims to build the first part of a manned lunar base, called the International Lunar Research Station, by 2035.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.