China merges lunar programs as moon race with US intensifies

China is consolidating its lunar exploration efforts, merging its crewed and uncrewed landing programs into a unified mission. The China Manned Space Agency announced the integration, aiming to maximize the technical expertise and practical experience gained from decades of crewed space programs and the Chang'e lunar missions.

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to fully leverage the technical foundations and practical experience accumulated over decades through crewed space programmes and the Chang’e lunar exploration missions

Agency spokesman Zhang Jingbo stated the purpose of the integration is to "fully leverage the technical foundations and practical experience accumulated over decades." Senior engineer Zhou Yaqiang added that the process of combining experiences and expertise is "progressing smoothly."

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combining experiences and expertise

Responding to the intensifying space race, particularly with the United States, Zhou reiterated China's official stance on the peaceful use of space. "We carry out the project of crewed lunar exploration under the established plan. We are not competing with other countries in space," he said. He emphasized that China's crewed lunar program is not subject to external interference.

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progressing smoothly

Zhou concluded by highlighting the significance of future Chinese lunar landings, stating, "When Chinese astronauts land on the moon in the future, this will be a great feat for all of humanity. It will help increase our understanding of space."

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We carry out the project of crewed lunar exploration under the established plan. We are not competing with other countries in space. Our crewed lunar programme is also not subject to interference from any factors