Rocket took astronaut who will spend 1 year away from Earth, on a mission that aims to study how the body works during a long-term stay; China prepares to reach the Moon by 2030
China launches the Long March-2F Y23 rocket towards the Tiangong space station this Sunday (May 24, 2026), at 12:10 pm (Brasília time). According to the Chinese government, the launch, carried out from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, was successful, the Chinese newspaper reported CGTN.
The mission carries 3 astronauts: commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Li Jiaying (or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese), the first professional from Hong Kong to participate in a space mission.
One of the crew will remain in orbit for 1 consecutive year. This is twice the usual time for Chinese missions. China’s goal is to study the effects of radiation, loss of bone density and psychological stress on long-term stays.
Moon in 2030
These studies are fundamental to the goal of carrying out one on the Moon by 2030. Although Beijing keeps details of the program secret, it is known that the project depends on the development of new rockets and the lunar landing module.
To date, China has only sent robots to the Moon. At the same time, it was the first nation to recover samples from the far side of the satellite in 2024. Robot missions have highlighted space capabilities that are being rapidly enhanced and will play a vital role in achieving the goal of sending astronauts to the lunar soil.
Shenzhou-23 will perform the 1st autonomous rapid docking procedure with Tiangong, an essential technique for the future rendezvous in lunar orbit between the capsule and the landing module.
partnership with Russia
According to the lunar program’s chief scientist Wu Weiren, the Chinese public timeline is intentionally conservative. A successful landing before 2030 should boost Beijing’s plans to establish a permanent base on the Moon by 2035, in partnership with Russia.
