Crewed space flights necessitate massive engineering feats.

For example, Chinese experts are looking at the potential of building a spacecraft in orbit. The mission is part of the country's plans to increase space research, which includes crewed missions with long-term timelines.

According to an earlier report from the South China Morning Post, the request from China's National Natural Science Foundation seeks for a study of the mechanics of building an "ultra-large spacecraft spanning kilometers"

To put it another way, China just announced to the world that it wants to create a spaceship that is miles long. Miles, to be precise.

China is developing a spaceship with a length of several miles for long-term missions

The initiative is part of a larger strategic aerospace project, according to the paper, that will secure "the future use of space resources, exploration of the mysteries of the universe, and staying in long-term orbit." The effort is being supervised by an organization within the Ministry of Science and Technology, according to a project overview supplied by the foundation.

As if this gigantic endeavor wasn't remarkable enough, the mathematical and physical sciences department submitted ten more suggested research proposals earlier this month, with a total budget of $2.3 million (15 million yuan).

Because the modular spacecraft would weigh too much and be far too huge to be launched in a single flight, the concept suggests that it would require repeated launches as well as space-based construction. As a result, the project's researchers are up against a difficult task. They must reduce the weight of the spacecraft to reduce the number of launches required to bring its components into orbit, as well as simplify building expenses to match the country's budget. According to the blueprint, they must also enhance the structures' control capabilities to prevent them from drifting, vibrating, or otherwise twisting out of control during assembly.

China's space ambitions are increasing

In May, China became the second country to successfully land a rover on Mars, just two years after accomplishing it with a separate spacecraft on the moon's far side. In April of this year, China began building its Tiangong space station, with three more modules set to go into low-Earth orbit aboard its Long March 5 heavy rocket. As of this writing, the station's 22-metric-ton core component is set to become the principal living unit for spaceborne astronauts onboard the station, which is expected to be completed next year when it achieves a mass of around 100 metric tons.

The Tiangong station will be around one-fourth the size of the International Space Station when completed. The ISS, on the other hand, was built by a 16-nation coalition and is 356 feet (109 meters) long and 246 feet (75 meters) wide. This is nearly the size of a soccer pitch. Looking ahead, China will undoubtedly play a larger role in space missions, with a super heavy-lift rocket engine being developed for the next-generation carrier rocket Long March 9 set to launch in 2030. Today, the United States and its partner countries and corporations may continue to dominate space missions, but as China's ambitions grow, we may see a big shift in the coming years.