China’s manned lunar exploration program is advancing steadily toward its ambitious goal of landing astronauts on the Moon before 2030, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Thursday (October 30).

CMSA spokesman Zhang Jingbo said the mission’s development is “proceeding smoothly”, with key components; including the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou manned spacecraft, Lanyue lunar lander, Wangyu spacesuit, and Tansuo lunar rover, having completed major prototype milestones.

Scientific research and payload design for all planned flights are in place, while construction of vital ground facilities such as launch sites and tracking networks is accelerating.

According to Zhang, teams have already carried out crucial tests on the rocket, spacecraft, and lander this year. Next, they will conduct integrated tests for the lander, escape trials for the spacecraft, and flight certifications for the Long March-10.

“As for the timeline, we remain focused on the goal of putting Chinese astronauts on the Moon before 2030,” said Zhang.

Source: China Central Television