A file photo of Chinese astronauts. Photo: Xu Haihan/VCG via Getty Images

Mumbai: China’s extraterrestrial ambitions are clearly lifting off, even threatening the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), according to a recent Bloomberg article.

For instance, two Chinese astronauts—or taikonauts—are currently aboard an experimental space station called Tiangong-2. Also known as the Heavenly Palace, this is the second laboratory to be launched by the world’s second-largest economy, and the experiments are aimed at creating a permanent space station by 2022. Since 2011, 11 taikonauts have travelled into space.

Where does India figure in the space scheme of things?

While Rakesh Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, flew aboard a Soviet spacecraft launched on 2 April 1984 to become the first Indian to fly into space, India is yet to send a manned mission to the moon.

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