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China has announced significant progress in its planned moon landing mission, as both China and the United States vie to send humans back to Earth’s natural satellite. With the goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030, China is making strides toward this ambitious objective. Meanwhile, the U.S., which first landed humans on the moon in 1969, has scheduled its next crewed mission for mid-2027 but faces challenges.
Newsweek has contacted NASA via email for updates on its moon landing mission.
### Why It Matters
During the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, NASA launched the Apollo program, which placed the first humans on the moon in 1969. Six lunar missions with twelve astronauts were conducted until the program ended in 1972.
China is advancing multiple space programs to establish itself as a leading player in this domain. In addition to its moon landing mission, it has constructed a network of 16 space-enabling facilities in Latin America and operates a modern space station known as Tiangong.
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The space race between China and the U.S. could determine whether the 21st century is defined by Chinese or American dominance, according to Colonel Terry Virts, a former NASA astronaut, who warned that China could beat the U.S. back to the moon.
### What To Know
On Wednesday, the China Manned Space Agency announced that its manned lunar lander—named Lanyue (embracing the moon)—completed the first “comprehensive landing and takeoff test” at a test site in Huailai County, Hebei province, northern China. Footage of the test shows the lander igniting its rocket engines as it descends to the ground, with a ladderlike structure installed outside that could facilitate astronaut egress.
The event marked the first time China tested the “extraterrestrial landing and takeoff capabilities” of a manned spacecraft, according to the agency. The Lanyue consists of two modules—one for landing and one for propulsion—designed to transport two astronauts between the moon’s orbit and its surface.
The design of Lanyue is similar to that used in the Apollo program. The Apollo Lunar Module featured an upper stage containing a crew compartment and ascent rocket, along with a lower stage for descent.
### What People Are Saying
China’s Global Times reported on Thursday: “The test validated key systems, including the lander’s design, control strategies, lunar contact shutdown procedures, and interface compatibility between subsystems such as GNC (Guidance, Navigation, and Control) and propulsion.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary and interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy outlined a plan to build a nuclear reactor on the moon: “We’re in a race to the moon, with China. And for a base on the moon, we need energy.”
### What Happens Next
Besides its moon landing mission, U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to send astronauts to Mars, a goal supported by billionaire Elon Musk of SpaceX, who believes the moon is a distraction.
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📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true regarding China's progress in its planned moon landing mission?
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