A Chinese spacecraft carrying a three-member crew, including the nation’s first female space engineer, has successfully docked following a journey exceeding six hours.
The crew will utilise the domestically developed space station as a base for six months, during which they will conduct experiments and perform spacewalks, according to reports. This mission is part of Beijing’s effort to accumulate experience and knowledge for a planned Moon landing by 2030.
Beijing announced the launch of Shenzhou 19 as a “complete success.” This mission is one of 100 launches China has scheduled in a record-breaking year for its space programme, as it aims to surpass the United States in space exploration.
Reports indicate that the Shenzhou 19 crew has joined three other astronauts at the Tiangong space station, who are part of the Shenzhou 18 mission and are set to return to Earth on 4 November.
Two years ago, President Xi Jinping declared, “To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry, and build China into a space power is our eternal dream.”
However, some in Washington perceive China’s ambitions and rapid advancements as a significant threat. Earlier this year, NASA chief Bill Nelson stated that the US and China are “effectively in a race” to return to the Moon, expressing concerns that Beijing intends to make territorial claims. He also informed legislators that he believes China’s civilian space programme has military implications.
Frances Ibiefo
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