Sixth Manned Spaceflight Academic Conference Unveils Details on China’s Lunar Exploration Program
The sixth Manned Spaceflight Academic Conference is currently underway in Shenzhen, featuring over 800 experts and scholars from the fields of manned spaceflight and space science sharing the latest research findings across various disciplines. Significant details regarding China’s manned lunar exploration program during the lunar landing phase have also been disclosed.
New Challenges and Technological Breakthroughs in Lunar Exploration
According to reports from the conference, China’s space station has been operating reliably and efficiently in orbit for over 1,300 days. Notably, one astronaut has accumulated a total of 374 days in space, while a single crew has the longest continuous stay of 192 days. These experiences lay a solid foundation for future manned lunar landings.
Astronaut Operations on the Lunar Surface
Zhou Jianping, the chief designer of China’s manned space program, explained that astronauts will exit the lunar lander and drive a lunar rover to conduct scientific investigations on the Moon’s surface. The Moon’s gravity, which is one-sixth that of Earth, presents new challenges for both the astronauts and their equipment.
Advances in Near-Earth Orbital Travel Technologies
In tandem with the development of lunar exploration technologies, advancements are also being made in near-Earth orbital travel capabilities, leveraging the Long March 10 rocket and the Dream Ship manned spacecraft as research platforms. This will provide the space station with a more economical and robust transportation capacity in the future.
According to the introduction, the next generation of near-Earth orbital rockets and manned spacecraft is being developed with partially reusable design concepts, which will significantly reduce transportation costs between Earth and space while enhancing reliability and safety.
This conference not only highlights China’s commitment to advancing its space exploration efforts but also marks a crucial step towards achieving successful manned missions to the Moon. With ongoing innovations and a focus on overcoming the unique challenges of lunar operations, China is poised to make significant contributions to space exploration in the coming years.
