A new trio of astronauts is being sent by China to its space station Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) on Thursday, where they will stay for six months, marking a new milestone in its goal to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2030.

China has invested billions of euros in its space program to catch up with the U.S. and Russia, fueling its ambition to become one of the world's leading technological powers. The crew, composed entirely of men, took off at 5:17 p.m. local time (9:17 a.m. GMT) from the Jiuquan launch center in a desert area in northwestern China, according to journalists from AFP on site. In a plume of flames and smoke, the Long March-2F rocket soared into the air, marking the start of the Shenzhou-20 mission.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has accelerated China's "space dream" with the goal of sending a Chinese crew to the Moon by 2030 and subsequently building a lunar base — a project also targeted by the U.S. This ambitious space program is set to take a new leap with this mission, Shenzhou-20. A few hours before Thursday's launch, hundreds of people waving bouquets of flowers and small flags gathered to salute the astronauts as they passed through the streets of this base built in the middle of the desert.

Crowds cheering

The three crew members, dressed in white suits, greeted the crowd in front of a red banner that read: "Learn from our astronauts! Salute our astronauts!". "Success to you!" chanted the crowd as the astronauts passed by.

The crew is led by Chen Dong, a 46-year-old colonel in the army, who is venturing into space for the third time after becoming in 2022 the first Chinese to orbit for over 200 days. He is leading astronauts Chen Zhongrui, a 40-year-old former air force pilot, and Wang Jie, 35, the first astronaut from Inner Mongolia (northern China) who are both going to space for the first time. They will stay for six months to conduct experiments in physics and life sciences.

The team will also have to install protective devices against space debris, conduct extravehicular activities, and perform refueling and maintenance maneuvers for the station. The mission will bring flatworms on board for the first time, known for their regenerative abilities.

US ban

"We will thus contribute to building a strong China in space and showcasing our scientific power," Chen Dong stated on Wednesday during a presentation of the crew to the press. An AFP team was able to access the launch site on Wednesday as part of an official visit.

The rocket stood on its sky-blue pedestal in the desert landscape, surrounded by national flags and patriotic slogans. The Tiangong station, whose central module was launched in 2021, is the centerpiece of China's space program. It is occupied by teams of three astronauts renewed every six months. The previous mission, Shenzhou-19, is scheduled to conclude on April 29.

The U.S. has banned NASA from collaborating with Beijing since 2011, which has led China to seek partnerships with other countries for its space program.

In February, China and Pakistan signed an agreement paving the way for the first foreign astronaut to board the Tiangong space station. Following this process, 'two Pakistani astronauts will be selected to come to China for training,' confirmed the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Wednesday.