Alex McColgan

Putting it all together, it becomes clear that China is already thinking very carefully about not just a lunar base, but a vast network of habitats across the solar system.

Self-sufficient, able to mine resources wherever they are.

and with the manufacturing capabilities to construct parts or whole new spacecraft out of it.

With this infrastructure and technology in place, China will be able to mine resources from asteroids across the solar system and set up human presences on countless moons or planets.

Yes, it's still early days, and it's not like China is alone in this, but it's a sign of how far things have progressed.

If China is testing out the technology to build manufacturing bases in space, the platforms themselves can't be that far behind.

To be clear, China isn't trying to be secretive about any of this.

In fact, the Chinese are very in favour of collaboration.

However, under American law, American astronauts are not allowed on board Tiangong without express permission from Congress, something not likely to be given.

and although Europe initially planned to collaborate with China, they pulled out in 2023, citing insufficient budget and no political green light, although European and American nations are wary of it.

China has invited scientists across the world to perform joint experiments on the Tiangong station, in a spirit of international collaboration and mutual benefit.

It remains to be seen whether other nations will join China in these experiments,

or whether Tychonauts will be doing these thousands of experiments on Tiangong alone.

Artificial photosynthesis, orbital construction facilities capable of building a space rocket, robotics, in situ rapid growth of food, new power sources, new propulsion, all in all

we are entering into a new stage of space exploration.

To date, the furthest a human has ever travelled from our home planet is our moon.

We've sat foot there, looked around, but soon came home again.

China's experiments on Tiangong are signs that a new approach to space is fast arriving, one where humanity does not simply go to space to come back again.

We as a species are well on the way to leaving the nest of our mother earth and spreading our wings to fly out and discover new territories further and further onwards from there.

I hope we are ready for all that entails.