Home / Science / China Conducts Historic Lunar Lander Test, Paving Way for Manned Moon Mission
China Conducts Historic Lunar Lander Test, Paving Way for Manned Moon Mission
7 Aug
Summary
- China tests lunar lander for manned moon missions
- Lander to transport astronauts, serve as living space on moon
- Test simulates lunar surface conditions, a critical milestone
Last month, China took a major stride towards its goal of sending the first Chinese astronauts to the moon before 2030. The country's manned space program, China Manned Space (CMS), announced that it had successfully conducted the first test of its lunar lander, called Lanyue, which means "embrace the moon" in Mandarin.
The test, which took place at a site in Hebei province, involved comprehensive verification of the lander's ascent and descent systems under conditions designed to mimic the lunar surface. The test site featured a special coating to replicate the reflectivity of lunar soil, as well as rocks and craters to simulate the moon's terrain.
CMS described the test as a "critical milestone" in the development of China's manned lunar exploration program. The Lanyue lander will play a crucial role in these plans, serving as the vehicle to transport astronauts between the lunar orbit and the moon's surface. It will also function as a living space, power source, and data center for the astronauts after they land on the moon.
China has kept details about its lunar program closely guarded, but the disclosure of this test comes at a time when the United States is seeking to maintain its lead in the new space race. NASA's Artemis program aims to send astronauts around the moon and back in 2026, with a subsequent moon landing mission a year later.
China's uncrewed missions to the moon in recent years have allowed the country to become the only nation to retrieve lunar samples from both the near and far side of the moon. These achievements have drawn interest from international space agencies and organizations, setting the stage for China's ambitious plans to establish a manned lunar base by 2035.