China Advances Space Exploration: Youngest Crew Launched to Tiangong Space Station, Pentagon Notes Rapid Maturation of China's Space Capabilities

Crew's Historic Six-Month Stay In Space Includes Repairing Damages by Space Debris, as Pentagon Records: Chinese Space Program Second Only to U.S. with Surpassing 290 ISR Satellites and Advanced Anti-Satellite Missile Capabilities.

China has launched its youngest crew ever to the Tiangong space station with an average age of 38 for a six-month stay. This mission includes the repair of solar panels damaged by space debris.
Chracterized as a major space power, China's space station Tiangong completed late in 2021, is planned to expand in coming years adding three more modules to its existing three to house more astronauts.
China's People's Liberation Army (China's military) is rapidly developing its space capabilities, with over 290 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites in operation, and advanced anti-satellite missile systems.
The crew of Shenzhou-17 includes two new astronauts, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, symbolizing the upcoming generation of Chinese 'taikonauts', strengthening China's aerospace industry.
China's space capabilities match with those of NASA and U.S. industry. The Pentagon recorded that China's military space operations included more than 60 successful launches in 2022.