Beijing, October 8 — In a dramatic leap forward for its space ambitions, China on Wednesday launched its first fully crewed mission to the Moon, sending three astronauts aboard the Long March 10 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island. The move signals Beijing’s intent to rival NASA and private space firms in the new era of lunar exploration.
The mission, named Chang’e-6, involves the crew entering lunar orbit within 72 hours of launch, followed by a descent to a site near the Moon’s south pole — a region of intense scientific interest because it may harbor water ice. Officials say the crew will spend roughly 48 hours on the lunar surface before returning to Earth.
State media broadcast live footage as the rocket lifted off in a towering plume of flame, drawing cheers from onlookers. At mission control in Beijing, engineers broke into applause when the first stage separation went smoothly. “Today we write a new chapter in human spaceflight,” one controller said over the intercom.
The stakes are high. For China, this isn’t just about science — it’s geopolitical. The mission comes at a time when the global space race is intensifying, with the United States setting its sights on Mars and the Artemis program expanding lunar cooperation among allies. A successful landing would put China in rarefied company: only the U.S. has previously landed astronauts on the Moon.
Still, the technical challenges are immense. The south pole is rugged, shadowed much of the time, and the communications windows are narrow. In recent years, China has gained experience with uncrewed lunar landers and rovers, and most recently, sample return missions from the far side of the Moon. But human landings demand far greater precision and reliability.
At observation centers in Shanghai and Chengdu, families and space enthusiasts gathered hours before launch, waving Chinese flags and watching the night sky. “I wanted my daughter to see this — that her country can walk on the Moon,” said one mother in tears. In another lab, a young engineer told Reuters, “We are nervous. We’ve worked so long for today.”
International reactions were swift. Russia’s space agency offered congratulations and voiced hope for deeper cooperation. But some analysts in the United States expressed concern. “China now has the capacity to carry out permanent lunar operations,” said one U.S. space policy expert. “That changes the balance in deep-space exploration.”
The journey ahead is perilous. If any single component fails — from the life support system to the descent engines — the mission could end in tragedy. But China appears determined. Earlier this year, it announced a multibillion-dollar increase in its space budget and unveiled plans for a lunar research outpost by the 2030s. The Chang’e-6 mission is the critical first step.
State media quoted President Xi Jinping: “The dream of reaching the Moon belongs to all mankind. China commits to contribute its strength.” But in the halls of global space agencies, many see a clear subtext: competition.
As the crew begins its transit toward the Moon, world watchers, space fans, and rival governments will be glued to screens. Whether Chang’e-6 succeeds or fails, it is a bold claim: that the new era of the Moon is not only multinational but multipolar.
For the astronauts themselves, the risk is personal and monumental. One crew member — capturing attention on social media — left behind a note for her parents: “If I do not return, know that I went where few have gone.” The words now echo as the capsule arcs upward, vanishing into the black.
When radio silence falls out of view, Earth will hold its breath — and wait.
Source: Reuters
