Chinese authorities have disclosed a detailed blueprint for the country's first-ever crewed lunar mission, which they aim to carry out within three years, infohub.kz reports.
Under the released plan, the expedition will have a crew of three. Two taikonauts — the term for Chinese astronauts working under the national space program — will land on the surface of Earth's satellite, while the third will remain in lunar orbit aboard the crewed spacecraft. The stay on the Moon is scheduled to last three Earth days. The researchers plan to conduct spacewalks and work on the surface every day of their stay.
To carry out the plan, engineers have opted for a two-launch architecture. A lander will first be sent to lunar orbit, followed by a spacecraft carrying the crew. The vehicles will dock in orbit, after which the landing module will deliver the two taikonauts to the surface. Before the actual expedition, Chinese specialists will conduct a full-scale uncrewed rehearsal of the landing.
China's plans are intensifying the space race with NASA's Artemis program. Analysts note, however, that both sides still face numerous technical challenges before humans return to the Moon.