China Launches Three Astronauts to Tiangong Space Station in 5th Manned Mission

An Exciting New Journey for China's Space Program

On June 17, 2021, China launched three astronauts or "taikonauts" to its space station, Tiangong, in the country's fifth manned mission. This marks another milestone in China's ambitious space program. The Shenzhou-12 spacecraft was launched by a Long March-2F Y12 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

The three taikonauts – Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo – will stay in space for three months, conducting experiments and performing maintenance tasks. This is the longest stay in space for Chinese astronauts, and it is a significant step toward China's goal of establishing a permanently manned space station by 2022.

China has been investing heavily in space exploration in recent years and has made remarkable progress, achieving many milestones in a relatively short amount of time. The country has sent several unmanned missions to the moon and Mars, and it became the first country to land a rover on the far side of the moon in 2019. China's space program is also becoming more ambitious, with plans to send a crewed mission to Mars in the coming years.

China's Space Program Achievements

• China is the third country to launch a human into space after the United States and Russia in 2003.
• China's Chang'e-4 mission successfully landed on the far side of the moon in 2019.
• China's Tianwen-1 mission became the first to land a rover on Mars on its first attempt in May 2021.
• China has launched several Beidou navigation satellites, establishing its independent global navigation network.
• China is developing a new space station, which is expected to be completed by 2022.

Why China's Space Program Matters?

"Space is becoming an increasingly important domain for commercial, national security, and exploration purposes, and China's space program is becoming an increasingly important space actor," said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor of national security affairs at the US Naval War College.

China's space program has several significant implications:

1. Advancing Science and Technology: China's space program is not just about national prestige; it is a crucial driver of scientific and technological advances. The space program has generated a wealth of data and knowledge that can be used in various fields, from environmental monitoring to medicine.
2. Strengthening National Security: Space technology is rapidly becoming an essential element of national security. China's space program provides Beijing with an independent capability to monitor its territory and defend itself against potential threats.
3. Growing Influence: China's space program is a symbol of its growing global influence. The country is increasingly seen as a strategic competitor to the United States and Russia in space exploration. It can also use its space capabilities to strengthen its relationships with other countries and gain soft power.

Conclusion

China's space program has come a long way in a short time, and it shows no signs of slowing down. With the successful launch of three taikonauts to its space station, China has taken another important step toward establishing a permanent human presence in space. The space program is not just about national pride; it has significant implications for science, technology, national security, and global influence. China's ambitious space program is a story worth following.

References

• BBC News: China launches first crew to new space station
• Council on Foreign Relations: China's Growing Role in Charting a Course for Space
• Nature: China's Mars rover: what the mission means for planetary science

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Category

Science and Technology