China Celebrates 9th Space Day with Main Event in Wuhan, Hubei Province

China celebrated its 9th Space Day on April 24, 2024, with a series of events held in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. The main event featured ceremonies, conferences, and forums on various aerospace topics. China designated April 24 as the Space Day of China in 2016 to mark the launch of its first satellite 'Dongfanghong-1' into space on the same date in 1970.

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced new partners for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, including Nicaragua, the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization, and the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences. These new partners will collaborate with China on the demonstration, engineering implementation, operation, and application of the ILRS. The ILRS is expected to have a basic model completed by around 2030, and it will operate autonomously for a long period with short-term human participation.

As part of the celebration, an exhibition on aerospace was held at the Wuhan International Expo Center, showcasing science popularization and achievements of the aerospace industry. The exhibition featured a model of a rocket engine and exposed visitors to a comprehensive view of China's aerospace industry and its recent accomplishments. The aerospace industry achievements exhibition area was open until April 27, and the science popularization area was open until May 5.

China held the first China-Latin American and Caribbean States Space Cooperation Forum in Wuhan, Hubei Province on April 24, 2024, marking the country's Space Day. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the forum, noting that China and Latin American and Caribbean countries have seen prosperous development in their space cooperation over the past decade, including advancements in remote sensing satellites, communication satellites, and the deep space station network. Xi said China is ready to work with Latin American and Caribbean countries to build a high-level space cooperation partnership and promote space technology to benefit both peoples.

The Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship was scheduled to be launched at 8:59 pm on the same day from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China. Taikonaut Ye Guangfu, a veteran of the Shenzhou-13 mission, is set to command the crew and return to the Tiangong space station for a six-month stint. Ye is known for his outstanding performance in both scientific and physical tasks, as well as his warm and cheerful personality. He has also extended invitations to international counterparts to visit China's space station, reflecting the country's openness to international cooperation in space exploration.

Why this matters: China's 9th Space Day celebration highlights the country's growing achievements and ambitions in the aerospace sector. The event showcases China's commitment to international cooperation in space exploration, as evidenced by the expansion of partnerships for the International Lunar Research Station project and the hosting of the China-Latin American and Caribbean States Space Cooperation Forum. These developments underscore China's increasing prominence in the global space community and its efforts to

Key Takeaways

• China celebrated its 9th Space Day on April 24, 2024, in Wuhan.
• China announced new partners for the International Lunar Research Station project.
• An aerospace exhibition showcased China's industry achievements and science popularization.
• China hosted the first China-Latin American and Caribbean States Space Cooperation Forum.
• China launched the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship, with veteran taikonaut Ye Guangfu commanding the crew.