Will the next man on the moon be Chinese?

1992

Beijing announces it will develop a manned space exploration program. With initial assistance from Moscow, China begins to design, construct and test spacecraft.

2003

China launches its first astronaut into space, becoming one of only three nations capable of human space flight.

2005

Two Chinese astronauts orbit Earth for multiple days in a Shenzhou capsule.

2007

China successfully shoots down one of its own orbiting satellites as a demonstration of its powerful anti-satellite technology.

2008

A crew of three performs China’s first space walk.

2010

China becomes the only nation to begin building a space station without help from any other nation.

Beijing launches more satellites than the United States for the first time.

2011

September 29: China launches the Tiangong-1, or “Heavenly Palace,” space module to become the foundation of its space station.

November 3: Beijing docks an unmanned spacecraft with Tiangong-1, making China the third nation after the U.S. and Russia to demonstrate independently developed space-docking capabilities.

2012

China’s Compass Navigation Satellite System, initiated in 2004, will become

operational in most of the Asia-Pacific region, offering high-precision positioning and navigation services. (Coverage will be global by 2020.) Beijing plans to launch Tiangong-2, capable of supporting three crew members for up to 20 days.

The first female Chinese astronaut is scheduled to go into space.

2013

China is planning to land the Chang’e 3 unmanned lunar rover on the moon, where it will begin explorations.

2015

Beijing will launch Tiangong-3, designed to extend mission times for a crew of three to up to 40 days.

2016

China is scheduled to open its operational spacelab.

2020

China plans to open its long-duration space station, providing the basis for deep space travel.

If all goes as planned, a Chinese man will walk on the moon.