In its space ambitions, China is on the verge of taking a critical step: putting an astronaut to "live" in orbit for a year

China’s Shenzhou 23 mission has docked at the Tiangong space station with three taikonauts aboard.

Two crew members will stay for about six months, while one is set to remain for a full year in orbit.

The long-duration stay is meant to study the physical and psychological effects of microgravity.

Beijing says the mission marks another step in its expanding space program and lunar ambitions, including a planned 2030 moon landing.