China plans to send astronauts to the Moon before 2030 and establish a research station there

An image published by the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) shows China's Shenlong spacecraft docked to another satellite in orbit. The photograph, taken in 2024, also reveals open hatches on the vehicle's cargo bay.

The recording was obtained by the Vantor WorldView 3 satellite from a distance of about 90 kilometers. Thanks to a resolution of 4.5 centimeters per pixel, the image provided details of the spacecraft that were previously only available to ground observers.

This photograph is part of a declassified DIA report concerning the scale and range of space threats posed by competing nations. The satellite to which Shenlong is connected has not yet been identified.

Shenlong, first launched in 2020, is a reusable robotic spacecraft developed by China. Since then, it has carried out numerous missions, some lasting for months in orbit.

The craft is currently on its fourth mission, which began in February 2026. China states that the project is testing technologies aimed at increasing the accessibility of round-trip flights into space, but it does not disclose details of its current activities.

In June 2026, the American space intelligence company LeoLabs detected a new object near the craft. After additional observations, the company concluded with high confidence that this object was released by Shenlong. LeoLabs reported at the time: 'This activity is consistent with satellite deployments performed by the spacecraft during previous missions.'

This incident aligns with patterns observed in other flights. During its second mission in 2023, Shenlong also released an object and may have conducted rendezvous and proximity operations, where two spacecraft maneuver to approach each other. Similar behavior was recorded during the third mission, which concluded in 2024.

Another example of such operations is presented in the DIA report. In November 2022, Shenlong allegedly conducted rendezvous maneuvers with a companion satellite, initially maintaining a distance of about one kilometer. At a certain point, both objects approached each other to less than 100 meters before a possible meeting and subsequent satellite deployment.

Such maneuvers can help test various capabilities of the craft, such as rendezvous, inspection of other satellites, and placing smaller objects into orbit. There is also a possibility that some equipment is deployed before returning to Earth. However, the actual purpose of these operations remains unknown.

China asserts that Shenlong is used to test reusable spacecraft technologies. After the mission that concluded in 2024, the craft returned to Earth after 268 days in orbit. The Chinese space agency stated that the experiment demonstrated the improvement of the country's reusable space transport technologies, which, according to them, could facilitate peaceful round-trip flights into space.

The United States also possesses the X-37B robotic spacecraft, developed by Boeing. Similar to Shenlong, little detail about its capabilities and missions is published. In February 2025, the U.S. Space Force released its first official photograph of X-37B in orbit. The image apparently showed the craft in high low Earth orbit with open hatches on the cargo bay.

China and the United States are striving to expand their space capabilities within a competition observers call a new space race. Both craft are classified military projects kept secret, and images like those published by the DIA provide records of their activities without fully revealing their capabilities or objectives.

NASA confirmed this Friday (23rd) its commitment to returning astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028, detailing the subsequent stages of the Artemis program. During a press conference held at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, agency administrator Jared Isaacman also made provocative comments about the space history of the two countries, the US and China.

The presentation, titled Artemis Acceleration, focused on preparations for the Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for 2027, and the efforts required to achieve Artemis 4, which is expected to bring crew members back to the lunar surface. NASA expressed its intention to accelerate work to ensure compliance with this return-to-the-Moon timeline.

Isaacman commented that China achieved its equivalent of the 'John Glenn moment,' meaning its first crewed orbital spaceflight, only 23 years ago, referring to 2003. In contrast, he pointed out that the United States had already won the first space race, conducting six crewed landings on the Moon and completing 113 missions with the Space Shuttle before the first Chinese crewed flight.

Despite this, Isaacman acknowledged the significant advancement of the Chinese space program since then, mentioning that it now encompasses hundreds of satellites intended for communication, Earth observation, and military purposes.

This statement comes amid the competition between Washington and Beijing for supremacy in lunar exploration. While China plans to conduct its own crewed lunar landing by 2030, the United States aims to return to the lunar surface before that deadline.

The goal of sending people back to the Moon is linked to Artemis 4, planned for 2028. This mission will use the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule to transport the crew to the lunar area, where the transition to a commercial lander will occur. The selection of the landing system will depend on the development of the lunar modules and the results obtained during Artemis 3. Companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin are developing their own solutions for transport between lunar orbit and the surface.

If the schedule is met, Artemis 4 will represent the return of humans to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission, which took place in December 1972. The Artemis program integrates the United States' plans to expand its presence on the Moon and prepare for future crewed missions to Mars. Furthermore, NASA aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon through progressively more complex missions.

The Japanese space agency JAXA is preparing its first mission in the world to collect samples from Mars' moon Phobos. The robotic spacecraft, named Mars Multi-Mission X (MMX), is scheduled to launch on October 20, 2026, at 4:41 AM Japan time from the Tanegashima Space Center using the H3 rocket.

A preliminary briefing conference was held on October 18 before the launch. This mission is intended to collect at least 10 grams of material from Phobos and study both of Mars' moons. The collected samples will be delivered to Earth in 2031. Phobos and Deimos are two small satellites of Mars, and scientists have long discussed their origin.

One theory suggests that these asteroids were captured by Mars' gravity. Another hypothesis proposes that the moons formed from debris ejected by Mars following a major collision. The MMX mission aims to find answers to these questions. Phobos' soil may contain traces of water and organic matter, which could help understand the genesis of life in the Solar System.

The mission will not be limited to sample collection. It will also map the surface of Phobos, study its structure, and fly past Deimos. This will provide a more complete picture of the evolution of the Martian system. According to JAXA, these samples could also be useful for future crewed missions to Mars, as Phobos is considered a potential base.

The spacecraft will reach the vicinity of Mars in about a year. After entering Mars' orbit in August 2027, it will be in a quasi-satellite orbit around Phobos. After a detailed surface study, it will perform one or two landings. Special systems have been installed for sample collection. It will be accompanied by the IDEFIX rover from the French-German team, which will move across the surface and assist in selecting safe landing sites.

After collecting samples, the spacecraft will head back to Earth to deliver them in 2031. This mission is based on the success of JAXA's Hayabusa2 mission, which successfully delivered samples from an asteroid. However, MMX is significantly more complex as it will have to operate in Mars' gravitational field.

NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), the French agency CNES, and Germany's DLR are participating in this project. Many instruments and rovers are developments from these countries, which is an example of global partnership. Nevertheless, there are serious difficulties. Phobos' gravity is very weak, which complicates landing and takeoff. Power management and communication during the long journey also present a complex challenge.

For Japan, this mission is ambitious. The reliance on the H3 rocket and the use of a precise launch window are critically important. If successful, Japan will take a leading position in the study of the Martian system and achieve new heights in space exploration. The results of MMX will not only expand scientific knowledge but also pave the way for future human missions. Analysis of Phobos' soil will show the presence of resources and open a new chapter in understanding the origin of the Solar System and the probability of life.