The 6th Human Space Symposium opens in Shenzhen, China

The two-day 6th Human Space Symposium commenced on Thursday in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. The event coincides with the 25th anniversary of the launch of Shenzhou-1 and the coming two-year mark since the completion of China's Space Station.

Over 800 experts and scholars from various fields related to manned spaceflight have gathered. The theme of the symposium is "Tiangong Dream Realized, Mengzhou Embracing the Moon – Advancing into a New Era of Manned Spaceflight." This symposium is the first of its kind since China completed its "three-step" strategic mission in manned spaceflight and embarked on new journeys in space station applications and manned lunar exploration.

The two-day conference features keynote speeches by 12 academicians, renowned experts and astronauts. Topics cover overall project development, space science and application achievements on the space station, and the construction and operation of the national space laboratory. Additionally, 15 specialized forums have been set up to discuss various aspects of manned spaceflight, including common technologies, human space habitation, lunar exploration support and human factors engineering.

A highlight of the symposium is the collection of 351 thematic papers, with 18 outstanding authors set to receive honorary certificates. The organizers have also planned a "Chasing Space Dreams, Questioning the Cosmos" astronaut experience activity to inspire public interest in space exploration, particularly among young people.

China's manned space program has now fully entered the space station application and development phase. The country is steadily advancing its plans for manned lunar exploration, with various research and development projects progressing as scheduled. This symposium serves as a platform for exchanging cutting-edge research results and envisioning the future development of China's manned space program, contributing to the nation's goal of becoming a strong space power.