China space missions aim to break 2021 record, with first ever double-crew orbit also in works

China topped the world with 55 space missions in 2021 – top rival America was at second spot with 43
Ambitious new plans for 2022 revealed in China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation blue paper

Science

Erika Na

Published: 9:43pm, 10 Feb 2022

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China is aiming for more than 50 space missions once again this year, alongside 140 spacecraft launches and the completion of its Tiangong space station.

Plans also include having six astronauts from two separate crews carry out space missions in orbit simultaneously, in a first for China.

The ambitious new plans from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) are an extension of the country’s high-performing track record in 2021, when it launched the highest number of space missions globally.

The plans were revealed in the CASC’s report titled “Blue Paper on China’s Space Science and Technology Activities”, reviewing space activities in 2021 and announcing aims for the current year.

Construction of the Tiangong space station will be completed this year by manned spacecraft through six missions, the paper released on Wednesday said. The Tianhe core module will be the control centre for all six missions, with the Wentian and Mengtian modules as the main experimental platforms.

“When completed, the space station … will have living space big enough for three astronauts for a longer period, and six astronauts for shorter stays,” Bo Linhou, vice chief designer of the space station, said.

The more than 50 space launches in the works would include the first flights from new launch vehicles such as the Long March 6A, and the Jielong or Smart Dragon 3.

This comes after China carried out 55 launch missions in 2021, the highest in the world. The US, China’s top space rival, was at No 2 with 43 launches, with Russia at third place with 25.

A total of 146 launch missions were carried out globally last year, the highest number since 1957, the CASC paper noted, as it highlighted the vigorous development of the world aerospace industry in 2021. A total of 1,846 spacecraft were launched.

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The space industry has long been emphasised to be a vital part of China’s national strategy. In January, the State Council published a white paper titled “China’s Space Programme: A 2021 Perspective,” laying out the country’s “aims to strengthen its space presence in an all-round manner”.

President Xi Jinping has also highlighted China’s space ambitions going forward. “To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is our eternal dream,” Xi said in January.

Last month, the CASC outlined a number of goals for this year, including developing rocket engines to enable Chinese astronauts to land on the moon by 2030.