China is entering a new stage in its human spaceflight programme as it works towards one of its most ambitious objectives: sending astronauts to the Moon by 2030.
As part of preparations, the country is developing a lunar analogue training facility in Xinjiang to train a new generation of astronauts who could take part in the planned lunar mission.
A generational shift is also underway within China's astronaut corps. Yang Liwei, the country's first astronaut, has confirmed that the first generation of Chinese astronauts will leave active flight duties in October 2025.
Yang, who travelled into space aboard Shenzhou-5 in 2003 and now serves as deputy chief designer of China's crewed space programme, said the veteran astronauts would remain available to fly again if needed.
The responsibility for upcoming missions, however, is increasingly being taken up by younger astronauts.
TRAINING FOR THE MOON
China is undertaking extensive preparations for its planned lunar landing.
Walking on the Moon will require astronauts to do more than operate spacecraft. They will need to function for long periods in unfamiliar, isolated and physically challenging surroundings.
As part of this preparation, China has introduced an unconventional training environment: caves.
In late 2025, 28 astronauts completed the country's first specialised cave-training programme in Chongqing's Wulong district.
The astronauts were divided into four groups and spent six days and five nights inside a natural cave. They faced darkness, high humidity and limited mobility throughout the exercise.
Their activities included exploring and mapping the cave, conducting scientific tasks, managing limited supplies, simulating communication with people outside and participating in psychological and team-building exercises.
They also navigated narrow passages, climbed and rappelled, and endured extended periods in cold and damp conditions.
The purpose was not to precisely reproduce lunar conditions. Instead, the exercise was designed to teach astronauts how to operate in isolation, deal with restricted resources and respond to unforeseen difficulties.
WHAT WILL CHINA'S MOON MISSION DO?
China's lunar landing strategy involves two major launches of the Long March-10 rocket.
One launch will send the Mengzhou crew spacecraft into lunar orbit, while another will carry the Lanyue lunar lander. Once in orbit, the two spacecraft will rendezvous and dock.
Two astronauts are expected to transfer into Lanyue and make the descent to the lunar surface.
After conducting scientific experiments and travelling with a lunar rover, the astronauts will return to the lander. They will then transfer back to Mengzhou before beginning the journey to Earth.
The necessary hardware is already undergoing testing.
China is developing the Wangyu lunar spacesuit to protect astronauts in the harsh lunar environment, while researchers are also studying ways to maintain astronaut health during longer-duration missions.
China's Moon-landing programme is increasingly being approached as a series of interconnected challenges rather than a single launch. Preparations and training for those challenges are already underway on Earth.
