China's New Crew Arrives at Tiangong, Advancing Space Exploration Ambitions
A Chinese spacecraft carrying a three-person crew docked with the Tiangong space station on October 29, 2024, marking a significant step in China's pursuit of a lunar landing by 2030 and its growing influence in space exploration.
Published on April 4, 2025
On October 29, 2024, a Chinese spacecraft carrying a three-person crew successfully docked with the Tiangong space station. Led by mission commander Cai Xuzhe, and joined by first-time astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, this crew replaced the team that had been working on the station for six months.
The mission underlines China's expanding presence in space exploration and its ambitious goal to land an astronaut on the moon by 2030. It also highlights an intensifying competition with the U.S., as China continues to assert itself on the global space frontier.