China Deploys Its Most Youthful Astronaut Crew to Date in Pursuit of Lunar Ambitions by 2030

China initiated the launch of its most youthful astronaut team ever to its orbital space station last Thursday, as part of the country’s endeavor to send humans to the moon by the close of this decade.

The Shenzhou 17 spacecraft was propelled into space atop a Long March 2-F rocket at 11:14 a.m. local time (0314 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located on the fringes of the Gobi Desert in Northwestern China.

As reported by the China Manned Space Agency and subsequently corroborated by state-run broadcaster CCTV, the average age of the three-person crew is 38, making it the youngest since the commencement of the space station’s assembly missions. State-run publication China Daily also confirmed this detail.

This latest mission is a component of Beijing’s strategic efforts to send astronauts to the lunar surface before 2030, amid an escalating contest with the United States to achieve novel benchmarks in space exploration. This competition mirrors broader tensions between the two global powers, spanning technology, military capabilities, and diplomatic relations.

The astronaut team—comprising Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin—will take over duties from a previous crew that has been stationed at the orbital outpost for half a year. Tang Hongbo is an experienced astronaut, having led a three-month space mission in 2021.

During their tenure, the newly deployed team is slated to perform experiments in various domains such as space medicine and space technology. They will also be responsible for the installation and maintenance of equipment within and outside the space station, as stated by the agency.

Earlier last week, the China Manned Space Agency disclosed its intentions to launch a new telescope to explore the universe’s farthest reaches. Although no specific timeline has been set, CCTV has stated that this telescope will enable comprehensive sky surveys and mapping.

China’s ambition to become a leader in space exploration and scientific research is deeply rooted in its history, including millennia of study in astronomy. The nation independently developed its own space station after being barred from participating in the International Space Station, primarily due to American apprehensions regarding the involvement of China’s People’s Liberation Army in the program.

Since its inaugural manned space mission in 2003, China has continued to advance its capabilities, becoming the third country—after the former Soviet Union and the United States—to send a human into space using its own resources. While the United States currently holds an advantage in terms of funding, supply chains, and technical prowess, China has made notable strides, including returning lunar samples to Earth for the first time in years and landing a rover on the moon’s less-explored far side.

The United States has set its sights on returning astronauts to the moon by 2025, with the assistance of private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Both nations have also executed successful Mars rover landings, and China is planning an asteroid mission, following in the footsteps of U.S. endeavors.

Contributions to this report were made by Caroline Chen, video producer at Big Big News, who was present at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and journalist Kanis Leung, based in Hong Kong.

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• Introduction to Lunar Exploration Programs
• China Manned Space Agency Announcements
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• Comparison of U.S. and China’s Space Capabilities
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