China recently conducted a test of a lunar lander, marking a turning point in the country’s space ambitions. The experiment is a central part of efforts to land astronauts on the moon by the end of the decade. Beijing is accelerating its space programs in the context of the lunar race, which reveals a new phase of technological rivalry between the world’s major powers.
Lunar module test brings China closer to the moon
China conducted its first test on Wednesday of a lunar lander that it hopes will put the first Chinese on the moon before 2030, the country’s manned space program said. The lander’s ascent and descent systems underwent comprehensive verification at a site in Hebei province that was designed to simulate the moon’s surface. The test surface had special coating to mimic lunar soil reflectivity, as well as being covered with rocks and craters.
“The test involved multiple operational conditions, a lengthy testing period, and high technical complexity, making it a critical milestone in the development of China’s manned lunar exploration program,” China Manned Space (CMS) said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.
The lunar lander, known as Lanyue, which means “embrace the moon” in Mandarin, will be used to transport astronauts between the lunar orbit and the moon’s surface, as well as serving as a living space, power source, and data center after they land on the moon, CMS added. China has kept details closely guarded about its program to achieve a manned landing on the moon, but the disclosure about the test comes at a time when the United States is looking to stave off the rapid advances of China’s space program.
Tight deadlines between China and the US in the lunar race
The climate in the disputes for lunar prominence is tense, as deadlines are tighter. The US is trying to maintain its leading role with the Artemis program, while China is advancing quickly, efficiently, and technologically, as exemplified by the Chang’e 5, an unmanned lunar module. Now, China intends to man this lunar module, which has been a success.
NASA plans for its Artemis program to send astronauts around the moon and back in April 2026, with a subsequent moon landing mission a year later. China’s uncrewed missions to the moon in the past five years have allowed the country to become the only nation to retrieve lunar samples from both the near and far side of the moon.
International collaborations and strategic ambitions
Those missions have drawn interest from the European Space Agency, NASA-funded universities, and national space agencies from Pakistan to Thailand. A successful manned landing before 2030 would boost China’s plans to build a “basic model” of the International Lunar Research Station by 2035. This manned base, led by China and Russia, would include a nuclear reactor on the moon’s surface as a power source.
The next steps in Chinese space exploration
China’s goal is to position itself as a genuine competitor to American space dominance, but it is also expanding its international ties. The country has been cooperating with emerging countries in Asia and Europe, with a plan to build a scientific base by 2035, achieving permanent technical and logistical dominance on the Moon within a multipolar space governance framework.
With successful tests, China has just taken a step closer to a manned landing. With this technological advancement, combined with new strategic collaborations with partner countries, the Chinese lunar program could become a key player in redefining the global space order. China has great potential to shape new directions for space exploration and occupation in the coming years.
GCN.com/Reuters