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China launched its third manned spacecraft today (the 5th) to build its own space station.
The plan is to complete the space station by the end of this year.
The US side looking at this is also accelerating.
This is Correspondent Songwook in Beijing.
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[3, 2, 1, Ignite!]
China's Shenzhou 14, carrying three astronauts, soars into the sky with a roaring noise.
This is the third manned spacecraft to build China's own space station, Tiangong.
[Zhou Weifeng / Commander of Zhuquan Satellite Launch Center: The solar panel also worked normally.
We declare the success of the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft launch mission.]
The astronauts stay in the station's core module, 'Tianhe', for six months, and perform work such as construction of the station.
China plans to launch the lab modules 'Wantian' and 'Mengten' in July and October to complete the 37m long and 90t T-shaped space station by the end of the year.
When the ISS, an international space station in which the United States and Russia participated together, ends operation in 2024, when the agreement ends, Tiangong will become the only space station.
China, which has already succeeded in exploring the far side of the moon and Mars, is working with Russia to build a lunar laboratory.
The United States, which has become impatient with China's space move, has set a policy to extend the operation of the ISS to 2030 while pushing for the construction of a privately-led space station.
In addition, through the 'Artemis Project', a manned lunar exploration project, we are strengthening our alliance with our allies for space development.
[Joe Biden/President of the United States (last 23rd): We are expecting Japanese astronauts to join the lunar surface mission for the first time through the Artemis project.]
In 2045, aiming to become the most powerful space power in space, China and space hegemony are closing the gap. America's unwillingness to let go is intensifying.
(Video coverage: Gyu Ma, Video editing: Yonghwa Jung)