China launches Shenzhou-20 mission as part of its space power ambitions

Beijing sends three astronauts to Tiangong space station, advancing its space dream and long-term lunar goals.

Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie of the Shenzhou-20 space mission arrive for a press conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert, northwest China, on April 23, 2025, a day before their scheduled launch. Photo by Pedro Pardo/AFP

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

China has launched a new team of astronauts to its Tiangong space station, reinforcing its commitment to becoming a global space power and challenging the long-standing dominance of the United States. The mission, known as Shenzhou-20, is the latest step in Beijing’s grand strategy to realize what President Xi Jinping calls the nation’s "space dream."

In recent years, China has invested billions into its rapidly advancing space program. The Shenzhou-20 launch on Thursday highlights the country’s ongoing efforts to build a self-reliant and powerful space industry. The astronauts’ journey to the Tiangong space station is not just a milestone for China's space exploration, but also part of its broader plan to send humans to the Moon by the end of the decade and eventually construct a lunar base.

Scheduled to lift off at 5:17 p.m. local time (0917 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the mission carries three astronauts who will spend six months aboard the Tiangong space station. The launch site, located in the vast desert of northwestern China, has become a symbol of the country’s technological rise and space ambitions.

Meet the Shenzhou-20 crew

Leading the Shenzhou-20 crew is Chen Dong, a 46-year-old former fighter pilot who previously spent over 200 days in space. His experience will be critical in guiding the mission, which includes two first-time astronauts: 40-year-old Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot, and 35-year-old Wang Jie, a former space technology engineer.

At a news conference held on the eve of the launch, Chen Zhongrui spoke about his long-held dream. “Today, I am on the point of realizing my dream of flying in space,” he said, reflecting the personal significance of this national mission.

The trio will join the crew currently aboard Tiangong, conduct a handover, and then take over operations until their return to Earth in late October.

Once in orbit, the Shenzhou-20 astronauts will carry out a wide range of scientific experiments and maintenance tasks. Their work will include research in physics and life sciences, particularly involving the study of planarians — small aquatic flatworms that are renowned for their regenerative capabilities. This marks the first time planarians are being taken aboard the space station, offering scientists new insights into biology in microgravity.

In addition to scientific experiments, the crew will conduct spacewalks, restock essential supplies, and install shielding equipment to protect Tiangong from space debris. This multifaceted workload reflects China's desire not only to sustain its station but to position it as a hub of ongoing innovation.

Tiangong’s strategic importance

The Tiangong space station, meaning “celestial palace,” is the centerpiece of China’s space infrastructure. Designed to be inhabited by rotating teams of three astronauts every six months, the station symbolizes China’s independence in space exploration.

Since 2011, China has been excluded from participating in the International Space Station due to a U.S. congressional ban on NASA collaborations with Beijing. This exclusion has driven China to develop its own advanced orbital platform, and it now seeks to welcome international partners to Tiangong.

In a major move toward international cooperation, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced that Pakistan will become the first foreign nation to send an astronaut aboard the Tiangong space station. Two Pakistani astronauts are set to begin training in China, highlighting the political and diplomatic dimensions of Beijing’s space program.

This step comes as China seeks to enhance its influence in global space affairs, positioning itself as a leader not just technologically but geopolitically. Partnerships with countries like Pakistan demonstrate China’s readiness to build a coalition of spacefaring nations outside the Western-led space alliances.

Space power ambitions and the road to the Moon

The launch of Shenzhou-20 is one of many missions that signal China’s long-term goal of becoming a dominant space power. Beyond low-Earth orbit operations, China is developing missions aimed at landing humans on the Moon, exploring the lunar south pole, and eventually establishing a research station there.

China’s Mars missions have already demonstrated significant capabilities, with the Zhurong rover successfully landing and conducting exploration on the Martian surface. Its lunar Chang’e missions have also returned samples to Earth, showing growing sophistication in robotic missions that lay the groundwork for crewed expeditions.

The emergence of China as a space power is reshaping the global landscape of space exploration. While the United States continues its Artemis program to return humans to the Moon, and private companies like SpaceX dominate commercial launches, China’s state-led approach emphasizes long-term strategic goals.

With its exclusion from international collaborations now turned into a catalyst for independence, Beijing’s efforts are increasingly focused on establishing technological parity — or even superiority — over established spacefaring nations. The Shenzhou-20 mission is both a symbol and a tool of that broader vision.

Final preparations and launch environment

On Wednesday, AFP journalists attending a state-organized tour witnessed final preparations at the Jiuquan launch site. The rocket, painted white with red insignias, stood tall inside a sky-blue launch tower. Chinese flags flapped in the wind as workers in blue jumpsuits conducted final checks. This carefully choreographed scene is part of China's wider narrative — showcasing strength, precision, and unity in its pursuit of space exploration.

The public visibility of these events also serves a purpose at home, generating national pride and reinforcing the image of a technologically advanced and ambitious China.

As the Shenzhou-20 crew embarks on their six-month mission, they represent not only the next chapter in China’s space program but also the country’s growing influence in a rapidly changing space environment. From its lunar ambitions to global partnerships, China’s journey toward space power status is no longer aspirational — it is well underway.

With every successful launch and mission milestone, China moves closer to realizing its vision of becoming a full-spectrum space power. The Shenzhou-20 launch is another powerful step in that direction, solidifying its role as a formidable player in the new space race.