China is overtaking the West in the race to the Moon

ExclusiveThe space program of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is one of the most dynamic and successful in the world, as it demonstrates significant achievements in space exploration and ambitious plans for the future. It has developed over decades, starting from modest steps in the 1950s to modern breakthroughs such as lunar missions and its own space station.

China's space program began in the mid-1950s with support from the Soviet Union. In 1956, the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of Defense was established, which was responsible for the development of rocket technology. In the 1960s, China began developing its own ballistic missiles, which became the basis for future space launches.

On April 24, 1970, the PRC successfully launched its first satellite, Dongfang Hong-1 (East Red-1), using a Long March-1 launch vehicle, becoming the fifth country in the world to put a satellite into orbit. In the 1s, China began to develop commercial satellite launches using the Long March family of launch vehicles.

In the 1990s, the PRC launched the Shenzhou manned space program. The first successful manned flight took place on October 15, 2003, when astronaut Yang Liwei became the first Chinese person in space aboard Shenzhou 5. This made China the third country (after the USSR/Russia and the United States) to independently send a human into space. During this period, China also actively developed satellite technology, including the Beidou navigation system, which became an alternative to GPS.

In 2003, China officially launched the Chang'e lunar program (named after the Chinese goddess of the moon). The first probe, Chang'e-1, was launched in 2007 to map the lunar surface. In 2013, the Chang'e-3 probe made China's first soft landing on the Moon, delivering the Yutu (Jade Hare) rover. In 2019, China achieved a historic breakthrough: the Chang'e-4 probe made the first landing on the far side of the Moon in human history, and the Yutu-2 rover began exploring this little-explored region. In 2024, the Chang'e-6 mission collected soil samples from the far side of the Moon, which was another significant achievement.

In 2011, China launched the first experimental space station, Tiangong-1, and in 2016, Tiangong-2. These projects were preparations for the creation of a permanent space station. In 2021, the PRC began construction of the modular space station Tianhe (Heavenly Harmony). The main module of the station was launched in April 2021, and by the end of 2022, the station was fully equipped with three modules. It became an alternative to the International Space Station (ISS) and is limited (due to different docking standards) open to international cooperation. In 2020, the Chang'e-5 mission successfully delivered samples of lunar soil to Earth, which was the first such achievement by China.

As of 2025, the Tianhe Space Station is fully operational and regularly hosts crews of taikonauts. It consists of three main modules: Tianhe (the main module), Wentian, and Mengtian (the experimental modules). The station is used for scientific research in astrophysics, biology, medicine, and technology. China also offers cooperation to other countries, including through UN initiatives.

In 2020, the Tianwen-1 mission successfully delivered the Zhurong rover to the surface of Mars, making China the second country (after the United States) to successfully operate a rover. China plans to land a manned lunar landing by 2030 and establish an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) in cooperation with other countries. The Beidou satellite navigation system became global in 2020, competing with GPS and Galileo.

China is actively developing commercial space companies such as iSpace and LandSpace, which compete with private players such as SpaceX.

By 2030, China plans to launch a mission to return samples from Mars.

The Long March-9 super-heavy launch vehicle is being developed, which will be capable of delivering large cargo to the Moon and possibly Mars.

China is also exploring the possibility of building space telescopes, such as Xuntian, to compete with the Hubble and James Webb telescopes.

China develops most of its space technology independently, which allows it to avoid dependence on other countries. The program is state-owned, but since the 2010s, private companies have been actively involved. Although China has been excluded from projects such as the ISS due to US sanctions, it has been actively cooperating with other countries, including Pakistan, countries in Africa and Latin America. The ILRS program is an example of China's ambitions to create an international platform for lunar exploration.

China's space program is closely linked to military developments. For example, the Beidou satellites are used for both civilian and military purposes. China is also developing anti-satellite weapons technologies, which is of concern to the United States and other countries. The program is an important element of national pride and a demonstration of China's technological power. Successes in space are actively used in state propaganda to strengthen China's image as a global superpower.

Against the backdrop of Russia's decline and the difficult budgetary and socio-cultural situation in the United States, China could become one of the leaders in manned spaceflight and lunar exploration by 2030. The development of the commercial sector could make China a competitor to SpaceX and other private companies.

Unless, of course, it goes bankrupt by then.

Mykhailo Koval, observer