China Launches Crewed Mission to Space Station, Eyes Moon Landing

China successfully launched three astronauts, including their first civilian taikonaut, to their Tiangong space station as part of preparations for a crewed moon landing by 2030.
The crew will carry out scientific experiments during their five-month stay aboard the space station, which China built after being barred from the International Space Station.
The mission shows China's increasing space rivalry with the U.S., which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2025.
China hopes to launch an additional module for Tiangong next year and open their space program to private companies and foreign collaboration.
If successful, China would become only the second nation to accomplish a crewed moon landing after the U.S. landed astronauts on the lunar surface during the Apollo program in the 1960s and 70s.