In 1992, China launched its manned space program with a three-step strategy. Now, 30 years have passed.

In July 2022, China launched the first lab module of its space station, Wentian, with a takeoff mass of 23 tonnes and a length of nearly 18 meters. The Wentian lab module, the Tianhe core module, together with the Mengtian lab module to be launched later this year, will comprise the final multimodule space station. The three Shenzhou-14 Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, currently in China's space station for a six-month mission, had a dialogue with students from eight African countries via video link on Tuesday.