Latest news with #LinXiqiang
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China says it is on track to put boots on Moon by 2030 as Nasa's Artemis struggles with delay
China's plans to put boots on the Moon by 2030 are on track with tests proceeding as per schedule, the country's space agency said, following an early trial of its lunar landing spacecraft last week. The Asian giant's timeline to land astronauts back on the Moon is still behind the schedule of Nasa's Artemis II crewed mission, which has been delayed until 2027. Last week, China's space agency announced the successful trial of its prototype Mengzhou next-generation reusable spacecraft and the Lanyue lunar surface lander, adding that their development was 'progressing smoothly', SCMP reported. In subsequent months, the space agency plans to test the safety and reliability of the country's three-stage superheavy rocket, Long March 10, as well as the Mengzhou spacecraft. Mengzhou has two modules, one that would return to Earth, and another expendable module to provide propulsion, power and life support for a crew of about six astronauts while they are in space. 'The Long March 10 and Mengzhou spacecraft are carrying out prototype development and testing as planned,' said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Further ground tests would also assess the spacecraft's emergency escape systems, developed to get the crew to safety in the event of a launch failure. In earlier reports, the space agency said it expected the spacecraft to attain crewed flight capability around 2027-2028. 'We will strive to ensure the successful completion of all tests to lay a solid foundation for launching humans to the moon as scheduled,' the CMSA deputy director said. Meanwhile, Nasa's Artemis III crewed mission to the lunar surface has been facing a series of delays. Both the Chinese and American missions are aiming for a landing near the lunar south pole thought to be rich in water-ice, a resource critical for establishing bases. Nasa announced in December that its mission to put boots on the Moon would be delayed to mid-2027, after problems were discovered with the heat shield on its Orion spacecraft. Extensive tests found that material on the spacecraft's heat shield wore away differently than expected. The heat shield is supposed to provide thermal protection for Orion's crew from the nearly 2,760 degrees Celsius (5,000 degrees Fahrenheit) of temperatures generated when Orion returns through Earth's atmosphere. The American space agency has been testing changes to Orion's trajectory and enhancements to the heat shield to ensure the spacecraft can keep the crew safe. 'The updates to our mission plans are a positive step toward ensuring we can safely accomplish our objectives at the Moon and develop the technologies and capabilities needed for crewed Mars missions,' said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator for Nasa's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate.
The Independent
28-04-2025
- Science
- The Independent
China says it is on track to put boots on Moon by 2030 as Nasa's Artemis struggles with delay
China 's plans to put boots on the Moon by 2030 are on track with tests proceeding as per schedule, the country's space agency said, following an early trial of its lunar landing spacecraft last week. The Asian giant's timeline to land astronauts back on the Moon is still behind the schedule of Nasa 's Artemis II crewed mission, which has been delayed until 2027. Last week, China's space agency announced the successful trial of its prototype Mengzhou next-generation reusable spacecraft and the Lanyue lunar surface lander, adding that their development was 'progressing smoothly', SCMP reported. In subsequent months, the space agency plans to test the safety and reliability of the country's three-stage superheavy rocket, Long March 10, as well as the Mengzhou spacecraft. Mengzhou has two modules, one that would return to Earth, and another expendable module to provide propulsion, power and life support for a crew of about six astronauts while they are in space. 'The Long March 10 and Mengzhou spacecraft are carrying out prototype development and testing as planned,' said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Further ground tests would also assess the spacecraft's emergency escape systems, developed to get the crew to safety in the event of a launch failure. In earlier reports, the space agency said it expected the spacecraft to attain crewed flight capability around 2027-2028. 'We will strive to ensure the successful completion of all tests to lay a solid foundation for launching humans to the moon as scheduled,' the CMSA deputy director said. Meanwhile, Nasa's Artemis III crewed mission to the lunar surface has been facing a series of delays. Both the Chinese and American missions are aiming for a landing near the lunar south pole thought to be rich in water-ice, a resource critical for establishing bases. Nasa announced in December that its mission to put boots on the Moon would be delayed to mid-2027, after problems were discovered with the heat shield on its Orion spacecraft. Extensive tests found that material on the spacecraft's heat shield wore away differently than expected. The heat shield is supposed to provide thermal protection for Orion's crew from the nearly 2,760 degrees Celsius (5,000 degrees Fahrenheit) of temperatures generated when Orion returns through Earth's atmosphere. The American space agency has been testing changes to Orion's trajectory and enhancements to the heat shield to ensure the spacecraft can keep the crew safe. 'The updates to our mission plans are a positive step toward ensuring we can safely accomplish our objectives at the Moon and develop the technologies and capabilities needed for crewed Mars missions,' said Catherine Koerner, associate administrator for Nasa's Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate.
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Shenzhou-20 launch signals nothing will stop the rise of China
Launches happen frequently enough to almost seem routine, but the vapour trail arcing skyward above northwestern China yesterday was an important signal of the nation's resolve to be a space exploration leader despite geopolitical headwinds. Advertisement The blast-off was all the more exciting knowing Hong Kong's first astronaut could be joining a mission as early as next year. The three Shenzhou-20 astronauts will spend six months on the Tiangong space station, carrying out experiments on artificial brain models and superconducting materials. They will replace the current residents, including China's third female astronaut, who are due to return to Earth on Tuesday. Announcing the flight plans earlier this week, China's space agency said it remained on track to put astronauts on the moon by 2030. Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), said development was 'progressing smoothly', including on tests of the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou spacecraft and Lanyue lunar lander. Advertisement However, China has some catching up to do with the US space agency Nasa. Both aim to put the first humans on the moon this century. The United States has done it before, most recently on a 1972 Apollo mission. Now, Nasa has conducted full uncrewed flight tests of an updated launch system and spacecraft, while China has yet to do a full flight test.
See - Sada Elbalad
24-04-2025
- Science
- See - Sada Elbalad
China Reveals Far Side Moon Soil
Israa Farhan In a historic milestone for space exploration, China has publicly revealed lunar soil samples collected from the far side of the Moon for the first time. The announcement coincides with China's National Space Day, marking the 55th anniversary of the launch of its first satellite, Dong Fang Hong-1. This achievement follows China 's groundbreaking mission in 2024, when it became the first country to successfully land on and retrieve samples from the Moon's far side. The soil samples, gathered by the Chang'e-6 probe from the Aitken Basin near the lunar south pole, were showcased at the Shanghai Expo Exhibition Center. Also on display were samples from the earlier Chang'e-5 mission in December 2020. China's space agency began exploring the Moon's far side in 2019 with the Chang'e-4 mission, during which the Yutu-2 rover operated for several months in uncharted lunar territory. The mission led to the discovery of two types of mantle rocks, which had long been hypothesized but never directly observed. The Chang'e-6 probe was launched on May 3, 2024, aboard a Long March 5 Y8 rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island. It successfully landed on June 2 in the Aitken Basin and returned to Earth with nearly two kilograms of diverse lunar soil samples—the first ever collected from the Moon's far side. Vice Director of China's Manned Space Agency, Lin Xiqiang, confirmed on April 23, 2025, that China is making successful preparations for a future crewed lunar mission. Prototype testing for spacecraft, landers, spacesuits, and rovers is currently underway, with plans for the first Chinese astronaut to set foot on the Moon by 2030 to conduct scientific research. Named after the mythical Moon goddess Chang'e, China's lunar exploration program consists of multiple phases, including orbiting, landing, and sample-return missions. The inaugural mission, Chang'e-1, launched in 2007 and operated until 2009, helping create the first thermal map of the Moon using data collected by Chinese scientists. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Videos & Features Bouchra Dahlab Crowned Miss Arab World 2025 .. Reem Ganzoury Wins Miss Arab Africa Title (VIDEO) Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
South China Morning Post
24-04-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's space dreams take flight as city's first astronaut could fly in 2026
Hong Kong's first astronaut in China's space programme may begin participating in missions as early as next year, according to a national agency. The China Manned Space Agency picked the Hongkonger in June last year as part of the fourth batch of preparatory astronauts. The local specialist and another one from Macau were among the 10 chosen in the latest group of astronauts. 'Since the fourth batch of astronauts joined the team in August 2024, they have carried out a great deal of training according to the plan, for instance, basic space flight theory, psychology, space environment adaptability, etc,' Lin Xiqiang, the agency's deputy director general, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
