China has announced plans to send a new telescope to probe deep into the universe as it prepared to launch the country's next three-member crew for its orbiting space station
Chinese astronauts for the upcoming Shenzhou-17 mission, from left, Jiang Xinlin, Tang Hongbo and Tang Shengjie arrive for a meeting with the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. China announced plans on Wednesday to send a new telescope to probe deep into the universe as it prepared to launch the country’s next, three-member crew for its orbiting space station.
The announcement came on the eve of the flight by three astronauts — Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin — who will replace a crew that has been on the station for six months. The program largely comes in competition with the United States but also seeks to draw in support from nations in Europe, Southeast Asia, South America and elsewhere.
American spending, supply chains and capabilities are believed to give it a significant edge over China for the time being. China has broken out in some areas, however, bringing samples back from the lunar surface for the first time in decades and landing a rover on the less explored far side of the moon.