Polskie Forum Astronautyczne
Artykuły o tematyce astronautycznej => Artykuły astronautyczne => Wątek zaczęty przez: Orionid w Stycznia 10, 2021, 01:30
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Tytuł zmieniony z [SN] China gears up for space station, cargo and crewed mission launches
China gears up for space station, cargo and crewed mission launches
by Andrew Jones — January 7, 2021
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/LongMarch5B-assembly-tianjin-CMSE-jan2021-879x485.jpg)
Components of the Long March 5B (Y2) to launch the Chinese space station core module at a facility in Tianjin. Credit: CMSA
China's human spaceflight agency is also soliciting proposals for low-cost cargo transportation to orbital outpost
HELSINKI — China is preparing to launch three major missions in the next few months to initiate the construction phase of the country’s space station project.
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) is finalizing work on rockets which will launch the first space station module, a cargo and refueling craft and a crewed mission.
The launches will be the first of 11 planned missions (https://spacenews.com/china-outlines-intense-space-station-launch-schedule-new-astronaut-selection/) to construct a three-module Chinese space station. The activity marks the beginning of the end phase of a project approved in 1992 to develop human spaceflight capabilities and establish a long-term crewed presence in low Earth orbit.
A 849-metric-ton Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket will launch the roughly 22-metric-ton Tianhe space station core module this spring. The launcher is currently undergoing final work in a factory in the northern port city Tianjin.
The rocket components will soon be transported by Yuanwang cargo ships to Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan, according to CMSA (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzI0NTU3MTk1Nw==&mid=2247491566&idx=1&sn=defcfd9987bca2b4d9e892269de09576&chksm=e94dd7f4de3a5ee27202c1047cf0e58256f976895a723ee361642397d19a9ee48d76f9b822ca&xtrack=1&scene=0&subscene=92&sessionid=1609839364&clicktime=1609840186&enterid=1609840186&ascene=7&devicetype=android-29&version=27001141&nettype=WIFI&abtest_cookie=AAACAA%3D%3D&lang=en&exportkey=AnsbRTpaS%2FCHWZDXjPRdpt8%3D&pass_ticket=4vxu9YbJYkihLcQ1SLS4t0D%2Fvv7kj1z%2B2DWYjJuOAhD8kb9UREl%2BTgzbaEAnxz8H&wx_header=1), China’s human spaceflight agency.
A launch date has not been released but the mission will likely take place around two months after the arrival of the Long March 5B to Wenchang. Previous Long March 5 series missions have required such a period for launch preparations.
“We will soon complete the construction of China’s first long-term orbital crewed space station meeting advanced world levels, and will carry out large-scale space scientific research on it,” Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s human spaceflight program, told CCTV recently.
“We firmly believe that it will play a major role in the forefront of scientific exploration of humanity and also in the development of our space technology,” Zhou said.
Chinese space station launch, delays
Launch of the core module was planned for 2018 with subsequent modules to follow around 2020 and 2022. However a launch failure and subsequent issues with the Long March 5 rocket means China is now condensing the schedule into an intensive two-year period.
The 16.6-meter-long, 4.2-meter-diameter Tianhe core module was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) and is already at Wenchang. It underwent fit checks with the first flight model of the Long March 5B, which features China’s largest payload fairing, in early 2020.
The module will provide the main living quarters for three astronauts for periods of around six months. It includes a docking hub and will also control the station’s orbit and attitude.
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/tianhe-april2019-css-2-1024x595.jpg)
The Tianhe core module and docking hub of the Chinese Space Station. Credit: CMSA
Tianhe is planned to be inserted directly into a low Earth orbit with an apogee of around 370 kilometers and inclined by 41 degrees. A test flight for the mission in April 2020 (https://spacenews.com/long-march-5b-launch-clears-path-for-chinese-space-station-project/) saw the first Long March 5B launch a prototype new generation crew spacecraft. The new, uncrewed craft was loaded with propellant to simulate a payload similar in mass to a space station module.
Notably the rocket’s large core stage reached orbital velocity and uncontrolled reentry off the west coast of Africa, passing over New York just minutes earlier. A similar event can thus be expected for the upcoming launch.
After completion in 2022 the Chinese Space Station will be joined by a co-orbiting, Hubble-class space telescope. The Xuntian survey telescope will be able to dock with the CSS for maintenance and repairs. The space station itself could also be expanded from three to six modules.
Cargo, crewed missions to follow
Once in orbit the Tianhe module will be visited by the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft. This will be launched by a Long March 7 kerosene-liquid oxygen rocket from Wenchang. That launcher is currently undergoing final assembly.
Tianzhou cargo spacecraft have a mass of up to 13.5 tons and differing pressurized and unpressurized variants. Tianzhou-1 was launched in April 2017 to test technologies crucial to establishing and maintaining a space station.
The mission successfully tested a number of rendezvous and docking maneuvers and verified automated refuelling in microgravity with the Tiangong-2 (https://spacenews.com/chinas-tiangong-2-space-lab-reenters-over-south-pacific/) space lab. The Tiangong lab also tested regenerative life support and a robotic arm for the larger, future space station.
This will be followed by the Shenzhou-12 crewed mission. This will launch on a Long March 2F, an older generation hypergolic rocket, from Jiuquan in the Gobi Desert.
It will be China’s first crewed mission since 2016. Zhou Jianping has previously stated that the crew have already been selected.
The astronauts are expected to carry out a number of extravehicular activities during the mission. The identity of the crew will likely remain secret until days or weeks before launch.
The Shenzhou-12 spacecraft will also feature an upgraded guidance, navigation and control system (GNC) to meet new mission demands, according to a 2017 report (Chinese (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/oCcQvES1Zd2xWRBHJ1Y00Q)).
The mission’s Long March 2F is undergoing testing in a final assembly facility in Beijing. Work is expected to be completed following the Chinese New Year (Feb. 12).
No clear schedule for the launches has been published. It is also unclear how soon after the two experiment modules will follow Tianhe into orbit. However the reports on launch vehicle preparations suggest the missions will follow relatively quickly after the module launch.
Chinese commercial resupply?
The Chinese Space Station, sometimes referred to as Tiangong (also the name for two small testbed space labs), is expected to be completed and enter normal operations in 2022 orbiting between 340-420 kilometers above the Earth.
CMSA announced Wednesday (Chinese (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzI0NTU3MTk1Nw==&mid=2247491622&idx=1&sn=d33385f43b182c5db728c9eaa6eb3401)) a solicitation for proposals for low-cost cargo transportation to assist space station operations.
The call aims to explore low-cost cargo transportation methods, create a supplement to the Tianzhou cargo delivery system, and build a “flexible, efficient, diverse, and low-cost cargo transportation system.”
Main requirements for cargo delivery include a payload capacity of 1-4 tons, possibility for removing and deorbiting station waste to prevent space debris, and transportation costs to be inline with international levels.
For returning cargo to Earth, requirements are for a payload 100-300 kilograms with the returning spacecraft to be easily tracked and recovered.
Actors are required to submit proposals by Feb. 28, including technical descriptions, spacecraft capabilities, and cost and engineering analyses.
The call is understood to be open to both state-owned space sector entities and new commercial actors, which have emerged since late 2014. The latter, nascent grouping is in the earlier phases of developing light and medium-lift launch vehicles and likely lack the required capabilities, expertise and resources.
The call for proposals is notable however for being open to outside entrants. Such missions and activities have so far been carried out by the China Aerospace Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC), China’s state-owned main space contractor.
Other actors such as sister conglomerate CASIC (https://spacenews.com/chinas-casic-reveals-five-year-plan-for-reusable-space-plane-commercial-space-projects/) and nominally private firms were previously understood to be restricted to competing for commercial missions only. This indicates China is considering furthering commercialization of its space activities.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-gears-up-for-space-station-cargo-and-crewed-mission-launches/
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China rolls out Long March 5B rocket for space station launch
by Andrew Jones — April 23, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LongMarch5B-rollout-casc-879x485.jpg)
Rollout of the first Long March 5B to the pad at Wenchang, South China in April 2020. Credit: CASC
HELSINKI — China is set to launch the first module for its own space station next week after rolling out a Long March 5B rocket at Wenchang spaceport late Thursday.
The 53.7-meter-long Long March 5B is now expected to launch the 22-ton Tianhe space station core module around April 29, although authorities have not officially released a launch time.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-rolls-out-long-march-5b-rocket-for-space-station-launch/
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Rocket to lift space station core moves to launch tower
By Zhao Lei | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2021-04-23 10:33 [CD]
(http://cds.chinadaily.com.cn/dams/capital/image/202104/23/608238f8e4b0fc41953e9c38.jpg)
A Long March 5B carrier rocket which will launch the core capsule of China's space station is moved to the launch tower at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the southernmost island province of Hainan, April 23, 2021. [Photo by Guo Wenbin/chinadaily.com.cn]
The Long March 5B carrier rocket which will launch the core capsule of China's space station was moved on Friday morning to the launch tower at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in the southernmost island province of Hainan, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Source: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202104/23/WS6082320ca31024ad0bab9dac.html
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China launches Tianhe space station core module into orbit
by Andrew Jones — April 29, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LongMarch5B-Tianhe-liftoff-29april2021-1-879x485.jpg)
Liftoff of the Long March 5B rocket carrying the Tianhe core module for the Chinese Space Station. Credit: CCTV/framegrab
HELSINKI — China successfully launched a 22-metric-ton module late Wednesday, beginning an intense period of missions for constructing the nation’s own space station.
A Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket lifted off from the coastal Wenchang spaceport at 11:23 p.m. Eastern. The Tianhe space station core module separated from the first stage after 490 seconds of flight.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-launches-tianhe-space-station-core-module-into-orbit/
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China Is Set to Launch First Module of Massive Space Station
By Ling Xin on April 21, 2021
The new orbiting laboratory will host research from Chinese and international scientists
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Credit: Alejandro Miranda Alamy
Since the Soviet Union launched the first space station, Salyut 1, 50 years ago, humans have lived on a total of 11 such facilities in Earth orbit. China will soon add one more to that list. With the core module of the Chinese Space Station (CSS) scheduled to lift off at the end of April, the culmination of a project the nation’s government initially envisioned in 1992 is finally entering the construction phase.
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/china-is-set-to-launch-first-module-of-massive-space-station1/
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Assembly of Chinese space station begins with successful core module launch
April 29, 2021 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://mk0spaceflightnoa02a.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/lm5b_21.jpg)
A Chinese Long March 5B rocket lifts off with the Tianhe space station core module. Credit: Xinhua
Chinese officials confirmed the successful launch of the first element of the country’s space station early Thursday, laying the keystone to a permanently-inhabited orbiting habitat that could welcome its first astronauts this summer.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/04/29/assembly-of-chinese-space-station-begins-with-successful-core-module-launch/
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Huge rocket looks set for uncontrolled reentry following Chinese space station launch
by Andrew Jones — April 30, 2021 [SN]
Long March 5B core stage likely to reenter the Earth's atmosphere in the coming days.
HELSINKI — China launched the first module for its space station into orbit late Wednesday, but the mission launcher also reached orbit and is slowly and unpredictably heading back to Earth.
Source: https://spacenews.com/huge-rocket-looks-set-for-uncontrolled-reentry-following-chinese-space-station-launch/
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Chinese rocket stage predicted to reenter atmosphere around May 8
by Andrew Jones — May 4, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/LongMarch5B-rollout-casc-879x485.jpg)
Rollout of the first Long March 5B to the pad at Wenchang, South China in April 2020. Credit: CASC
HELSINKI — A large rocket stage which launched China’s first space station last week is likely to reenter the atmosphere around May 8 according to early space tracking predictions.
U.S. Department of Defense Spokesperson Mike Howard in a statement May 4 said that “U.S. Space Command is aware of and tracking the location of the Chinese Long March 5B in space, but its exact entry point into the Earth’s atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its reentry, which is expected around May 8.”
Source: https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-stage-predicted-to-reenter-atmosphere-around-may-8/
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Long March 5B falls into Indian Ocean after world follows rocket reentry
by Andrew Jones — May 9, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/CZ5-launch-april2021-CALT-879x485.jpg)
The second Long March 5B rocket launches the core module of China's space station, on April 28, 2021. Credit: CASC
HELSINKI — Debris from a large Chinese rocket stage fell into the Indian Ocean late May 8 Eastern as people around the world watched for signs of the fiery reentry event in the skies.
Remnants from the roughly 30-meter-long, five-meter-wide empty core stage of the Long March 5B fell into the Indian Ocean at 10:24 p.m. Eastern close to longitude 72.47 degrees east and latitude 2.65 degrees north, China’s human spaceflight agency, CMSEO, announced.
Data from the U.S. Space Force’s 18th Space Control Squadron space tracking later confirmed reentry occurred at approximately 10:15 p.m. Eastern over the Arabian Peninsula, adding that “It is unknown if the debris impacted land or water.
https://spacenews.com/long-march-5b-falls-into-indian-ocean-after-world-follows-rocket-reentry/
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China rolls out rocket for Tianzhou-2 space station supply mission
by Andrew Jones — May 17, 2021
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Long-march-7-y3-rollout-tianzhou2-16may2021-CMSA-879x485.jpg)
Rollout of the third Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft at Wenchang May 15 Eastern. Credit: CMSA
Cargo mission is a precursor to the June crewed Shenzhou-12 mission to China's Tianhe space station module.
HELSINKI — China is set to launch the Tianzhou-2 space station cargo mission this week after rollout of a Long March 7 rocket at Wenchang spaceport.
Rollout took place late May 15 Eastern (May 16 local time) at the coastal Wenchang satellite launch center. Final checks, rehearsals and pre-launch preparations will take place ahead of an instantaneous launch window expected around May 20 local time.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-rolls-out-rocket-for-tianzhou-2-space-station-supply-mission/
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Tianzhou-2 docks with China’s space station module
by Andrew Jones — May 29, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/tianzhou2-liftoff-CASC-29may2021-1-879x485.jpg)
A Long March 7 carrying the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft lifts off from Wenchang ahead of an orbital docking with Tianhe. Credit: CASC
Tianzhou-2 docking with Tianhe paves way for June crewed mission.
HELSINKI — China’s Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft docked with the Tianhe space station module in low Earth orbit Saturday, eight hours after launch from Wenchang spaceport.
The uncrewed Tianzhou-2 spacecraft completed automated rendezvous and docking maneuvers with Tianhe at 5:01 p.m. Eastern May 29.
Tianzhou-2 is tasked with delivering propellant and supplies ahead of a first crewed mission to Tianhe in June.
Source: https://spacenews.com/tianzhou-2-docks-with-chinas-space-station-module/
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Cargo ship docks with Chinese space station
May 31, 2021 Stephen Clark [SFN]
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In this long exposure photo, a Long March 7 rocket climbs into the sky over the Wenchang spaceport on Hainan Island with the Tianzhou 2 cargo ship. Credit: Xinhua
China’s robotic Tianzhou 2 cargo ship launched Saturday on top of a Long March 7 rocket and docked with the core module of the country’s space station eight hours later, delivering fuel, crew supplies, extravehicular spacesuits, and other gear in preparation for the arrival of three astronauts in June.
The resupply mission is the second of a series of 11 launches planned by China through 2022 to assemble and outfit the space station. The Tianhe core module launched April 28 on a heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket to begin construction of the Chinese orbital complex.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/05/31/cargo-ship-docks-with-chinese-space-station/
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Long March 2F rocket rolls out to launch pad for China’s next human spaceflight
June 9, 2021 Stephen Clark [SFN]
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China’s Shenzhou 12 spacecraft, perched on top of its Long March 2F rocket, rolls to a launch pad at the Jiuquan space base in northwestern China. Credit: CASC
The Long March 2F rocket and Shenzhou 12 spaceship set to ferry three Chinese astronauts to the country’s new space station later this month rolled out to a launch pad Wednesday at a remote military-operated spaceport in northwestern China.
The launcher and crew capsule emerged from an assembly building at the Jiuquan space base in the Gobi Desert, riding a mobile platform along rail tracks to cover the one-mile (1.6-kilometer) distance to the launch pad.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/09/long-march-2f-rocket-rolls-out-to-launch-pad-for-chinas-next-human-spaceflight/
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Shenzhou-12 docks with Tianhe space station module
by Andrew Jones — June 17, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sz-12-docking-tianhe-view-sun-879x485.jpg)
A view of the Sun on the horizon from Tianhe ahead of the Shenzhou-12 docking. Credit: BACC/CCTV/screenshot
HELSINKI — The Shenzhou-12 spacecraft docked with China’s space station module hours after launch from Jiuquan late Wednesday, marking the first crewed visit to the facility.
Shenzhou-12 and its crew of three launched on a Long March 2F from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 9:22 p.m. Eastern Wednesday.
https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-12-docks-with-tianhe-space-station-module/
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Chinese astronauts enter Tiangong space station for first time
June 17, 2021 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://mk0spaceflightnoa02a.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sz12crew1.jpg)
Chinese astronaut Tang Hongbo (left), commander Nie Haisheng (center), and astronaut Liu Boming (right) inside the Tianhe core module of China’s space station. Credit: CCTV
Three Chinese astronauts floated into the country’s new Tiangong space station Thursday, becoming the first people to board China’s outpost in orbit after a successful launch from a military base in the Gobi Desert to start a three-month mission.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/17/chinese-astronauts-enter-tiangong-space-station-for-first-time/
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Astronauts complete first Chinese space station spacewalk
by Andrew Jones — July 4, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Spacewalk-1-4june2021-CCTV-2-879x485.jpg)
A view from outside Tianhe during the first Shenzhou-12 spacewalk, June 2021. Credit: BACC/CCTV
Hausjärvi, FINLAND — Two Shenzhou-12 astronauts conducted a spacewalk late Saturday to carry to install equipment required for the long-term operation of China’s space station.
Liu Boming opened the hatch of the Tianhe module at 8:11 p.m. Eastern July 3 and was later joined outside by Tang Hongbo. Activities were completed at 2:57 a.m. July 4, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Source: https://spacenews.com/astronauts-complete-first-chinese-space-station-spacewalk/
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Chinese astronauts complete first spacewalk outside new space station
July 7, 2021 Stephen Clark [SFN]
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A Chinese astronauts outside the Tiangong space station Sunday. Credit: Xinhua
Two Chinese astronauts headed outside the country’s space station Saturday for the second-ever spacewalk in China’s space program, and the first staged from the new Tiangong complex in low Earth orbit.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/07/07/chinese-astronauts-complete-first-spacewalk-outside-new-space-station/
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Astronauts conduct second Chinese space station spacewalk
by Andrew Jones — August 20, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/shenzhou-12-spacewalk2-20aug2021-cctv-Nie-haisheng-arm-earth-1024x564.jpg)
Commander Nie Haisheng attached to a robotic arm during the second Shenzhou-12 spacewalk in August 2021. Credit: CNSA/BACC
HELSINKI — Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming embarked on a second Shenzhou-12 spacewalk late Thursday to carry out work on a space station robotic arm.
Shenzhou-12 mission commander Nie opened the hatch of the Tianhe module at 8:38 p.m. Eastern Aug. 19 to begin a planned near seven-hour extravehicular activity, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said.
Source: https://spacenews.com/astronauts-conduct-second-chinese-space-station-spacewalk/
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China rolls out cargo mission rocket as Shenzhou-12 astronauts leave space station
by Andrew Jones — September 16, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tianzhou3-rollout-16september2021-CMSA-1-879x485.jpg)
The Long March 7 (Y4) rocket to launch Tianzhou-3 being vertically transferred to the pad, September 16, 2021. Credit: CMSA
HELSINKI — China is preparing to launch its second space station cargo mission just as its Shenzhou-12 astronauts are set to return to Earth.
The Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft rolled out at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, south China, early September 16, China’s human spaceflight agency announced. Launch is targeted for September 20, according to local traffic restrictions.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-rolls-out-cargo-mission-rocket-as-shenzhou-12-astronauts-leave-space-station/
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Shenzhou-12 astronauts return to Earth after 3-month space station mission
by Andrew Jones — September 17, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/astronauts-out-of-capsule-17sept2021-CCTV-fg-879x485.jpg)
The three Shenzhou-12 astronauts outside of the return module after landing in Dongfeng, Sept. 17, 2021. Credit: CCTV/framegrab
HELSINKI — Three Chinese astronauts safely returned to Earth Sept. 17 after completing the first crewed mission aboard the Tianhe space station module.
Commander Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo touched down inside the designated landing zone near Dongfeng in the Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia, at around 1:34 a.m. Eastern Friday.
Source: https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-12-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-3-month-space-station-mission/
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Tianzhou-3 spacecraft docks with Chinese space station
by Andrew Jones — September 20, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tianzhou-3-liftoff-CMSA-879x485.jpg)
Liftoff of the Long March 7 rocket carrying Tianzhou-3 in orbit on September 20, 2021.
HELSINKI — China’s Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft docked in orbit with the Tianhe space station module Monday following launch from the coastal Wenchang launch center.
A Long March 7 rocket lifted off from Wenchang at 3:10 a.m. Eastern September 20. Tianzhou-3 separated from the second stage after 597 seconds, having entered orbit and on track to catch up with Tianhe.
Source: https://spacenews.com/tianzhou-3-spacecraft-docks-with-chinese-space-station/
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Shenzhou-13 heads for space station after reaching orbit
by Andrew Jones — October 15, 2021 [SN]
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The Long March 2F carrying Shenzhou-13 rising against the backdrop of the moon on Oct. 15, 2021. Credit: CCTV/framegrab
HELSINKI — A second crew of three astronauts are heading for China’s Tianhe space station module after the successful launch of the Shenzhou-13 mission Friday.
A Long March 2F lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert at 12:23 Eastern Oct. 15. The rocket, with four side boosters, two stages and a launch escape system, rose from the LC43/91 launch complex into the black skies above Jiuquan after midnight local time.
Source: https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-13-heads-for-space-station-after-reaching-orbit/
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Three astronauts begin half-year mission on Chinese space station
October 15, 2021 Stephen Clark [SFN]
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The Shenzhou 13 crew — Ye Guangfu, Zhai Zhigang, and Wang Yaping — float inside the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station. Credit: CMSA
Three astronauts floated into the living quarters of China’s space station Friday, hours after launching from a military-run spaceport in the Gobi Desert, moving in for a six-month mission to prepare the outpost for expansion next year.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/10/15/three-astronauts-begin-half-year-mission-on-chinese-space-station/
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China’s first female spacewalker helps outfit space station robotic arm
November 9, 2021 Stephen Clark [SFN]
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One of the two spacewalker on Sunday’s excursion is seen outside China’s space station, with a part of the lab’s robotic arm in the background. Credit: CMSA
Astronauts Zhai Zhigang and Wang Yaping, the first Chinese woman to perform a spacewalk, stepped outside China’s space station Sunday for an excursion lasting more than six hours to ready the orbiting lab’s robotic arm for operations.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/11/09/chinas-first-female-spacewalker-helps-outfit-space-station-robotic-arm/
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Chinese astronaut pair complete six-hour spacewalk
by Andrew Jones — December 26, 2021 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/EVA2-Shenzhou13-26dec2021-CMSA-879x485.jpg)
Outside view from the Tianhe space station module during the second Shenzhou-13 EVA, Dec. 26, 2021. Credit: CMSA
HELSINKI — Two Shenzhou-13 astronauts embarked on a six-hour extravehicular activity Sunday to install equipment outside China’s Tianhe space station module.
Astronaut Ye Guangfu, wearing a Fetian EVA suit with yellow markings, opened the Tianhe airlock hatch at 5:44 a.m. Eastern Dec. 26 before exiting the space station module, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Source: https://spacenews.com/chinese-astronaut-pair-complete-six-hour-spacewalk/
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China’s space station maneuvered to avoid Starlink satellites
by Andrew Jones — December 28, 2021 [SN]
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An image from Tianhe panoramic camera A during the first Shenzhou-13 spacewalk in November 2021. Credit: CMSA/CCTV/Chinese Academy of Sciences
HELSINKI — China has informed the United Nations that its crewed space station twice maneuvered to avoid potential collisions with SpaceX Starlink satellites earlier this year.
Source: https://spacenews.com/chinas-space-station-maneuvered-to-avoid-starlink-satellites/
Update: Shenzhou-13 separates from Tianhe core module, to bring 3 taikonauts to Earth in 8 hours
By GT staff reporters Published: Apr 14, 2022 11:24 PM
(https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2022/2022-04-15/05a3aca8-4c4e-42b6-83d6-cd94ab4e1b0c.jpeg)
Photo: courtesy of Dongfeng landing site
Carrying taikonauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu, the Shenzhou-13 manned spacecraft has successfully separated from the Tianhe space station core module by 0:44 am Saturday morning.
The three taikonauts have lived and worked in orbit for 183 days, the longest stay in space by Chinese astronauts in a single mission, the Global Times learned from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Prior to the separation, the taikonauts had completed various works, such as setting the status of the combination of the core module and cargo spacecraft, sorting and downloading experiment data, and clearing and transferring supplies kept in orbit, with support from staff on the ground, the CMSA said.
The crew is expected to land in the designated Dongfeng landing site in the Gobi Desert, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in some eight hours after the separation.
The search and rescue teams at the Dongfeng landing site said they were already making preparations to receive the Shenzhou-13 crew. They have been carrying out tasks like closely monitoring weather conditions in the area and constructing systems for tracking and monitoring the flight of the spacecraft, read the latest posts by the Dongfeng site on its official WeChat public account.
"Please rest assured, the well-geared and effectively trained ground and air units would be there once the return capsule touches down," the search and rescue teams said in one post.
(https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2022/2022-04-15/d8774aca-ed11-4b69-8002-45b243406075.jpeg)
Photo: courtesy of Dongfeng landing site
Eyeing for frontier
Ahead of the Shenzhou-13's return, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday that Chinese President Xi Jinping, during an inspection tour on Tuesday in the Wenchang Space Launch Site located in South China's Hainan Province, demanded efforts to upgrade the spacecraft launch site in the island province with world-leading standards.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site. He extended his greetings to all the staff stationed at the site and asked them to shoulder their responsibility and be brave to innovate and make new breakthroughs.
After being briefed on the launch site, Xi inspected the launching tower and other facilities. He spoke highly of a series of key space missions launched from the site, including the launching of the space station core module Tianhe, the Chang'e-5 lunar mission, and the Tianwen-1 Mars probe.
Xi noted that Wenchang is the launch site of China's new-generation high thrust carrier rockets and the bridgehead of the country's deep-space exploration.
The launch site should continue to eye the frontier of global space development and the major strategic needs of China's space industry, and comprehensively improve its modern space launch capabilities, said Xi.
Xi mentioned that Wenchang staff should carefully prepare, coordinate and implement the tasks to ensure the success of missions, and take practical actions to welcome the victory of the Party's 20th National Congress.
As the youngest member of China's spacecraft launch centers, the Wenchang spaceport successfully completed its first launch mission on June 25, 2016, with the maiden flight of China's Long March-7 carrier rocket. On November 3, 2016, the Long March-5 also took its first flight from the launch site.
Staff at the Wenchang spaceport reached by the Global Times said they were greatly encouraged and inspired by the speech from the top leader and vowed to ensure the success of future missions and contribute their wisdom and strength to making China a space power.
Dubbed the "home port for China's space station building missions," Wenchang was the launching site of the Tianhe core module, the Tianzhou-2 and the Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecrafts on April 29, 2021, May 29, 2021, and September 20, 2021, respectively.
On April 11, ahead of Xi's visit, the Tianzhou-4 cargo spacecraft and the Long March-7 Y5 rocket commissioned for the launch mission arrived safely. The next launch is expected to be a third supply run to the Tianhe core module after the return of the crew of the Shenzhou-13.
(https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2022/2022-04-15/8a8c1b16-3078-4245-b900-210150c5a571.jpeg)
Photo: courtesy of Dongfeng landing site
More than six months
The Shenzhou-13 trio of taikonauts, under the command of Zhai Zhigang, was launched to space with a Long March-2F Y13 rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on October 16, 2021. They were scheduled to break the record of longest in-orbit stay for a single spaceflight mission in the country's space history. They have pulled that off.
The length of stay and their physical and psychological condition in orbit have effectively verified the capability to stay in China's space station in the long term and this is another achievement that suggests China has become a strong space power, Song Zhongping, a space analyst and TV commentator, told the Global Times.
The taikonauts of the Shenzhou-13 have conducted two successful spacewalks with Wang Yaping becoming the first Chinese woman in history to perform this maneuver.
The crew also delivered two Tiangong Classroom science lectures for students on Earth, connecting with youth from Beijing, Hong Kong, Macao, and Xinjiang and Xizang autonomous regions.
They have also played a significant part in many historic moments in China in the past six months, sending their greetings and congratulations during the Chinese New Year and joining the spectators of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games from space.
The crew completed more than 20 scientific experiments in orbit, including those focused on new technologies to monitor the taikonauts' wellbeing in space, innovation, and new discoveries as well as data collection.
These studies will give us a better understanding of how the weightless environment impacts human beings, and also provide a great experiment model to contribute to the study of general public health issues such as aging and heart diseases, said Li Yinghui, deputy chief designer of the country's taikonaut training system.
Experts noted that six months is an international standard for the duration of stays. However, China is not competing and has never sought to compete with other space powers. As long as the station is properly attended to and the goal of the mission is met, the duration does not matter, and taikonauts can take shifts to allow more people in the candidate pool to have a chance, ensuring the health and safety of taikonauts in orbit, Song said.
Pang Zhihao, a senior space expert, said the average length of orbital stay for the astronauts of the International Space Station is also about six months and China could reach this level as soon as in the second mission to the country's own space station, which is a great achievement.
Analysts said the success of the first six-month mission has laid the foundation for future manned missions which would allow more room for imagination that amateur taikonauts, such as flight engineers, space scientists and even foreign astronauts would have no problem living and working in China's space station once it is fully completed.
Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov recently said in an interview that China's space program is "good and fast," and that China "knows how to do things" when it comes to manned spaceflights. He and his colleagues are willing to participate in China's space programs if China allows it, be they near-Earth orbit missions or deep-space explorations to the Moon and Mars.
Shao Limin, deputy technology manager of manned spaceship systems, told the Global Times that the Shenzhou-13 spacecraft will fly five orbits before returning to Earth, which is 13 orbits less than the Shenzhou-12 mission. It will take about seven to eight hours.
The fast-return technique requires little adjustment to the hardware and software of the spacecraft, but mainly making the flight control more compact, Shao said.
"We have prepared a day for the return of the taikonauts. Although such duration meets the standards, a day of flight in the tight cabin is uncomfortable for them, especially after they have spent six months in space. We want our taikonauts to return in a shorter time. That is why we decided to adopt the fast return technique," Shao noted.
Bai Linhou, deputy chief designer of China's space station, said in an interview that two experimental modules are expected to be launched in the second half of this year. The verification and assembly work of the modules is progressing smoothly.
Both lab modules have a length of over 17 meters and a diameter of over 4 meters.
The Wentian module is positioned to carry out space science experiments inside and outside the cabin. It has an airlock through which taikonauts can exit, and a small robotic arm which can be used alone or combined with the large mechanical arm of the space station.
It can also serve as a backup to the core cabin, Bo said. If malfunction occurs in the core cabin, the Wentian module can replace it immediately, improving the reliability of the entire station's operation.
The other lab module, the Mengtian, has a cargo airlock. The small robotic arm on the lab module can also grab payload via the airlock and install them onto the experiment platform outside the cabin.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202204/1259381.shtml
"Absolutely yes": vice chief designer on whether China's Tiangong can become space post house for mankind
By Fan Wei (Global Times) 15:17, April 16, 2022
Will China's Tiangong space station become a station shared by all mankind? Bai Linhou, vice chief designer of the space station, said "absolutely yes" in an exclusive interview with the Global Times, as the space station can be expanded technically and has reserved docking hatches.
With three taikonauts returning to Earth on Shenzhou-13 on Saturday, China's space station completed its key technology verification and is in the assembly and construction phase -- the consecutive successes of China's space station development make it the new hope as the International Space Station will be retired soon.
China has showed an open and inclusive attitude repeatedly for the use of China's space station. Director of China Manned Space Engineering Office Yang Liwei said, "As always, we hold an open attitude toward international cooperation and we welcome more countries to join us in conducting research in space" at the two sessions this year.
Yang said from the engineering aspect, China has reserved resources for possible international cooperation, ranging from small experiments to large-scale cooperation at cabin level. The space station has reserved docking hatches for future international cooperation.
China is open to different countries and institutes in developing manned space cause. There are 9 experiments in cooperation with other countries at the space station and there will be more, and even joint spaceflights in the future, according to Yang.
Bai told the Global Times that China's space station is independently developed by China, but it's also an inclusive space station. It is to make Chinese contributions to the peaceful use of space.
"We are glad to have such cooperation and the space station was designed in a way that foreign astronauts can adapt to," Bai said.
Russian astronaut Anton Shkaplerov, who just returned to Earth in March this year, said in a recent interview that China's space program is "good and fast," and that he and his colleagues are willing to participate in China's space programs if China allows it.
Dmitry Rogozin, director of Russian Space Agency, also said in an interview with Chinese media that China and Russia can cooperate in the field of manned spaceflight. China and Russia can explore the construction of new modules and cabins.
For Rogozin's idea, Bai said technically China's space station can be expanded by adding more cabins. "It is workable, but needs to match current cabins."
The Global Times learned that China's space station has one core module and two experiment modules, which is an appropriate scale with room for expansion rather than a large one like the International Space Station. The decision is made based on current needs and costs.
The space station can meet demands for key scientific research but can also be expanded and be able to receive other spacecraft.
The three modules form an asymmetrical "T" and can be expanded by assembling more modules with the help of robotic arms.
Foreign astronauts have two ways to enter China's space station -- by a China-launched spacecraft, or by their own spacecraft that can dock at the space station. "But this is what we need to consider in the long-term operation. The prioritized task is to complete construction of our space station, and then to consider the deeper and wider international cooperation," Bai said.
As the International Space Station is about to retire, the China's space Station is expected to become the only space station for mankind in space for a period of time. In this regard, Bai believes that China does not pursue such "uniqueness", but aims to build the space station into a national-level space experiment platform for the world.
As for whether the Chinese space station can take on the mission of the International Space Station and become a new post house for mankind in space, Bai was confident, saying "of course."
(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Bianji)
http://en.people.cn/n3/2022/0416/c90000-10084952.html
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China aims to complete space station in another huge year in space
by Andrew Jones — January 3, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sz-12-docking-tianhe-view-sun-879x485.jpg)
A view of the Sun on the horizon from Tianhe ahead of the Shenzhou-12 docking. Credit: BACC/CCTV/screenshot
HELSINKI — This year, China’s main space contractor will target more than 40 orbital launches, including completion of the Tiangong space station, following 48 successful launches in 2021.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) stated on social media that it is targeting more than 40 launches, including six missions to complete the construction of the country’s space station.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-aims-to-complete-space-station-in-another-huge-year-in-space/
China proposes formal lines of communication with U.S. on space safety
by Jeff Foust — February 15, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Starlink-Screenshot-879x485.png)
While Chinese officials said they contacted the U.S. about two close approaches of Starlink satellites with their space station, U.S. officials said they heard nothing from China about the encounters. Credit: SpaceX
WASHINGTON — The Chinese government is open to establishing formal lines of communication with the United States on space safety issues after a pair of alleged close calls of Starlink satellites with China’s space station.
At a Feb. 10 press conference, Zhao Lijian, spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated claims the country made to the United Nations in December that it had to maneuver its space station twice in 2021 to avoid close approaches by SpaceX Starlink satellites.
“China was fulfilling the international obligation stipulated by Article V of the Outer Space Treaty by informing the U.N. of the Starlink satellites’ dangerous approach to the Chinese space station that threatened the safety of in-orbit Chinese astronauts,” he said according to a government transcript, adding that the “in-orbit Chinese astronauts were facing real and urgent safety threats.”
https://spacenews.com/china-proposes-formal-lines-of-communication-with-u-s-on-space-safety/
Może i Chiny przejmą z czasem kosmicznych turystów od Rosjan ? (2)
Exclusive: China looks to have foreign astronauts on board its space station some day
10-Mar-2022 Sun Ye, Cao Qingqing [CGTN]
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Zhou Jianping, the chief designer of China's manned space program, said he's looking forward to having foreign astronauts on board the country's space station after it is completed and can operate stably and safely.
"We would actively promote foreign astronauts' participation in the work in China's space station, which is an important part of international cooperation. You look forward to it, I look forward to it too," Zhou told CGTN in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Two Sessions, a key event on its annual political calendar.
China's space station, which is still in the stage of key technology verification, will enter the in-orbit construction period starting from May, according to Zhou, who's also a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body.
"In the early stage of China's space station, we need to first guarantee all the key technology verification, the completion of the construction work and then the safe and smooth operation of the station," he said.
A year of work in 2021 has equipped the space station with a core module and a robotic arm that helps with astronauts' spacewalks and other unmanned assembly work.
Two crewed missions, Shenzhou-12 and Shenzhou-13, sent a total of six Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts, to the core module of the space station.
Six missions have been planned this year to complete the construction of the space station, including the launches of two cargo vessels, two manned spaceships and two lab modules.
The space expert also revealed more details about the upcoming crewed missions, the openness of the space station to international scientists, scientific projects to be conducted there, and the prospect of the private sector's participation in the program.
The following excerpts from the interview with Zhou have been edited for clarity and brevity.
CGTN: You've revealed some plans for the manned space program this year. They've been described as "closely connected and allowing for no glitch." Could you elaborate on that?
Zhou: Starting from May, we will enter a new stage with many missions. Our focus is to make sure that every launch, every rendezvous and docking, every moment in the flight of the space station to be safe, reliable, trouble-free and that each mission is a complete success.
During the Shenzhou-14 crew's stay in orbit, the two lab modules will rendezvous and dock with the core module. Not only that, the robotic arm will re-position the lab modules to different berths.
When the lab modules are in place, the basic structure of the space station will be completed.
Then, the Shenzhou-15 crew will fly to the space station, taking over the following work.
For the Shenzhou-15 crew, much of their work will turn to scientific experiments. As we have said before, setting up the space station is for scientific exploration and the development of space resources.
Of course, their tasks will also include the management and maintenance of the space station, which is complex and challenging.
CGTN: How will the changing tasks affect the makeup of future space crew?
Zhou: When the space station is completed and running, it will enter a new stage. The focus will then be shifted to scientific researches and the exploration of space resources. The space station will help us explore what is unknown in the universe.
Also, with the conditions provided by the space station and the unique environment in space, astronauts can conduct scientific experiments that will contribute to the economic development of human society. That is why we will have flight engineers and payload specialists among future crews to the space station. It will be a new phase for our manned space program.
CGTN: You said that when China's space station is up and running, there will be participation from the commercial or private sector. How will this work?
Zhou: The commercial or private sector's involvement in space programs has been big at home and abroad. This shows how the space sector has become increasingly important in economic development.
We've been actively promoting the trend. When our space station is completed and running, we will actively encourage the private sector to engage in China's manned space program in various ways.
There are many possibilities. We hope there will be competitive, cost-efficient commercial space players to participate in areas including space application and space resource development. The prospects are good.
CGTN: As we're in for more scientific explorations, at this stage, when the space station is being completed and the space lab is soon to start running, what would the "openness" you've talked about look like?
Zhou: When the space station project was approved, we were clear from the start with the goal of making the space station a national space lab. So it's built for space scientific studies and the exploration of space resources. That's our guideline. So the scientific facilities, experiment equipment were designed and put up to that end.
The facilities are high-level and good for scientific researches in different space-relevant areas. What we've sent up covers quite a few fields, including space bio-life science, material science, microgravity fluid mechanic, combustion and fundamental physics. They are quite inclusive.
So the space station will provide good experimental conditions for scientists.
I know many scientists and engineers are looking closely on the opportunities to do experiments in China's space lab. It's a great thing. The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) has said many times that we are actively promoting the openness of China's space lab to domestic and international scientists and engineers.
Internationally, a lot has been done. For example, we have nine international projects coming from a joint recruit and selection between us and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. These projects will go up in space later and be implemented there.
The CMSEO has signed many such MOUs with other countries' space agencies.
In fact, when designing the facilities for the space station, Chinese scientists already cooperated with international scientists.
We have published the experimental conditions that can be offered in China's space station, including specifics for its interface and environment. We are also drafting standards for scientific experiments to be conducted in the space station. These standards would be national standards, and some would even be international standards.
All the work is to make international cooperation easier and smoother in China's space station.
CGTN: There are many projects hoping to make it to China's space lab. What's the selection process?
Zhou: The space station has the facilities and equipment for scientific experiments. And to use them, you first need to comply to the interface requirements. Besides, it's a manned space station, so there are requirements for reliability and safety. You need to meet medical standards. And, if you need astronauts to take part in them, you need to meet the standards in ergonomics, making sure that the operations are feasible. You also need to meet safety standards. These are the basic requirements.
Furthermore, you need to be aiming for breakthroughs, right? It's a rare opportunity to go to space, so we try to select the projects that will really boost advances in science and in application.
CGTN: When will foreign astronauts be on board China's space station?
Zhou: Foreign astronauts' participation in the program is an important part of international cooperation. I know many people, many of our international friends are interested. And we think it's very important.
But the space station is still at the stage of key technology verification, and to next embark on in-orbit construction. So in the early stage of China's space station, we need to first guarantee all the key technology verification, the completion of construction and then the safe and smooth operation of the station.
We would actively promote foreign astronauts' participation in the work in China's space station, which is an important way of international cooperation. You look forward to it, and I look forward to it too.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-03-10/China-looks-to-have-foreign-astronauts-on-board-its-space-station-18i4NtoNby0/index.html
China to open space station to commercial activity
by Andrew Jones — March 11, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sz-12-docking-tianhe-view-sun-879x485.jpg)
A view from China's Tianhe space station core module ahead of the Shenzhou-12 docking in 2021. Credit: CCTV/BACC/screenshot
HELSINKI — China is planning to open its space station to commercial missions and activities, according to a senior human spaceflight program official.
“When our space station is completed and running, we will actively encourage the private sector to engage in space through various ways,” Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s human spaceflight program, told China Central Television March 9.
https://spacenews.com/china-to-open-space-station-to-commercial-activity/
Chinese spacecraft reenters atmosphere ahead of new space station missions
by Andrew Jones — March 31, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/tianzhou-2-undocked-27march2022-CMSA-879x485.jpg)
TIanzhou-2 separates from the Tianhe core module on March 27, 2022. Credit: CMSA/BACC
HELSINKI — China deorbited the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft Thursday after testing on-orbit docking, refueling and module transposition for the Chinese space station.
Tianzhou-2 reentered the atmosphere over the South Pacific at 6:40 a.m. Eastern March 31, China’s human spaceflight agency, CMSA, announced minutes after the event. The area of the ocean is frequently used as a “spacecraft cemetery.”
Source: https://spacenews.com/chinese-spacecraft-reenters-atmosphere-ahead-of-new-space-station-missions/
China gears up for new space station missions, record-breaking crew set to return home
by Andrew Jones — April 14, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tianzhou-3-liftoff-CMSA-879x485.jpg)
Liftoff of the Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft on September 20, 2021.
HELSINKI — A Long March rocket arrived at Wenchang spaceport Monday in preparation for a new round of space station missions starting May.
The Long March 7 rocket was delivered to Wenchang after a near week-long voyage from the northern port city of Tianjin, China’s human spaceflight agency announced April 11.
The rocket is planned to launch the roughly 13.5-metric-ton Tianzhou-4 cargo vessel next month to China’s Tianhe space station core module.
Tianzhou-4 will deliver supplies and propellant for the Shenzhou-14 crewed mission, expected to launch from Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert in June.
https://spacenews.com/china-gears-up-for-new-space-station-missions-record-breaking-crew-set-to-return-home/
Chinese astronauts undock from space station, head for landing
April 15, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/sz13crew_csss-1536x861.jpg)
Astronaut Wang Yaping, Zhai Zhigang, and Ye Guangfu on-board the Chinese space station. Credit: CMSE
Three Chinese astronauts packed up, boarded their landing capsule, and undocked from China’s space station Friday in preparation for a return to Earth after six months in orbit.
Commander Zhai Zhigang, astronaut Wang Yaping, and crewmate Ye Guangfu are closing out a 182-day mission, the longest-ever spaceflight by a Chinese crew. They launched Oct. 15 on the Shenzhou 13 spacecraft, and docked with the space station’s Tianhe core module six-and-a-half hours later.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/15/chinese-astronauts-undock-from-space-station-head-for-landing/
Chinese astronauts return to Earth after six-month mission on space station
April 16, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/sz13landing.jpg)
China’s Shenzhou 13 spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia to wrap up a 182-day mission. Astronaut Wang Yaping, smiling after her exit from the spacecraft, became the most experienced Chinese space flier. Credit: CCTV / Spaceflight Now
(...) After six months performing experiments, spacewalks, and preparing the station for future expansion, the Shenzhou 13 astronauts floated into their Shenzhou 13 spacecraft and closed hatches with the Tianhe core module Friday. The spacecraft undocked from the station’s nadir, or Earth-facing, port at 12:44 p.m. EDT (1644 GMT) while the lab soared nearly 240 miles (380 kilometers) above the planet, according the China Manned Space Agency. (...)
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/04/16/chinese-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-six-month-mission-on-space-station/
Shenzhou-13 astronauts return to Earth after 182-day mission
by Andrew Jones — April 16, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Shenzhou-13-landing-16april2022-CMSA-879x485.jpg)
Recovery crews attend the Shenzhou-13 return capsule shortly after landing. Credit: CMSA/Li Yunxi
HELSINKI — Three astronauts safely returned to Earth April 15 after spending a national record 182 days in orbit, completing China’s second crewed space station mission. (...)
It was the first time that China had employed a “rapid return,” cutting the number of orbits after leaving Tianhe from 11 down to five. Landing nine hours after undocking.
Search and rescue teams reached the landing site soon after the capsule touched down, slowed by a main parachute and retrorockets shortly before impact. (...)
https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-13-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-182-day-mission/
China launches Tianzhou 4 cargo ship for space station
May 9, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/lm7-tz4-quick1.jpg)
Four booster engines and two core stage engines fire to propel a Long March 7 rocket off its launch pad at the Wenchang launch base Monday. Credit: CCTV
China launched the Tianzhou 4 cargo freighter for the country’s space station Monday, beginning a resupply mission to stage hardware, propellant, and provisions at the complex before arrival of the next long-duration crew in June.
Chinese state television broadcasted the launch, which occurred at 1:56:37 p.m. EDT (1756:37 GMT) Monday, roughly the moment Earth’s rotation brought the Wenchang launch base on Hainan Island under the orbital plane of China’s space station.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/05/09/long-march-7-tianzhou-4-launch/
China rolls out rocket for Shenzhou-14 crewed mission
by Andrew Jones — May 29, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LongMarch2FY14-Shenzhou14-rollout-JSLC-29may2022-Ourspace-CNSA-879x485.jpg)
Rollout of the Long March 2F (Y14) on May 29, 2022, ahead of launch of Shenzhou-14 to the Chinese space station. Credit: OurSpace/CNSA
HELSINKI — China is preparing to launch three astronauts to its Tiangong space station to oversee a crucial phase of construction of the orbital outpost.
The Long March 2F rocket was rolled out to the pad at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert early on May 29. The 62-meter-long rocket was transferred vertically across the roughly 1,500 meters from the assembly building to the pad at no faster than 30 meters per minute.
https://spacenews.com/china-rolls-out-rocket-for-shenzhou-14-crewed-mission/
Rocket to launch China’s next space station module arrives at launch center
by Andrew Jones — May 31, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/LongMarch5B-assembly-tianjin-CMSE-jan2021-879x485.jpg)
Components of the Long March 5B (Y2) to launch the Chinese space station core module at a facility in Tianjin. Credit: CMSA
HELSINKI — A Long March 5B rocket has arrived at Wenchang spaceport as China gears up to send its second space station module into orbit.
The components of the third Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket arrived at Wenchang May 29, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced (Chinese).
https://spacenews.com/rocket-to-launch-chinas-next-space-station-module-arrives-at-launch-center/
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Chinese astronauts prep for six-month space station construction flight
June 4, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sz14roll-1.jpg)
A Chinese Long March 2F rocket with the Shenzhou 14 spacecraft rolled to the launch pad at the Jiuquan space center May 29. Credit: CASC
Three Chinese military pilots are ready for launch Saturday on a Long March 2F rocket to begin a six-month expedition to help expand China’s space station in low Earth orbit, a mission slated to include the arrival of two modules and multiple spacewalks.
Chinese officials publicly revealed the crew of the Shenzhou 14 mission Saturday, less than 24 hours before the astronauts are set to blast off from the Jiuquan launch base in the Gobi Desert of northwestern China.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/06/04/chinese-astronauts-prep-for-six-month-space-station-construction-flight/
Shenzhou-14 crewed mission arrives at Chinese space station (https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=5002.msg176988#msg176988)
by Andrew Jones — June 5, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/docking-shenzhou14-Tianhe-1042utc-5june2022-CMSA-CCTV-879x485.jpg)
A view from the Tianhe core module after the docking of the Shenzhou-14 crewed spacecraft. Credit: CCTV/framegrab
HELSINKI — China’s Shenzhou-14 crewed spacecraft docked with the Tianhe space station module early Sunday, marking the start of a crucial six-month-long mission.
Shenzhou-14 completed a fast automated rendezvous and docking with the Tianhe module at 5:42 a.m. Eastern, June 5, marking the safe arrival of astronauts Chen Dong (commander), Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe.
https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-14-crewed-mission-arrives-at-chinese-space-station/
Chinese crew arrives at space station for six-month construction mission
June 5, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/005SySbsly1h2x7iha27aj36o04g0u10-1536x1024.jpg)
A Long March 2F rocket lifts off with the Shenzhou 14 mission at 10:44 p.m. EDT Saturday (0244 GMT Sunday). Credit: CASC
China’s Shenzhou 14 spacecraft glided to an automated docking at the Tiangong space station Sunday, hours after launching with three astronauts to begin a six-month mission that will see the outpost triple in size with the arrival of two new 20-ton research modules.
Commander Chen Dong monitored the Shenzhou 14 spacecraft’s on-board systems throughout the rendezvous and docking with the Tiangong space station. Chen is joined on the Shenzhou 14 mission by astronauts Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/06/05/chinese-astronauts-arrive-at-tiangong-space-station-for-six-month-construction-mission/
China looks to launch liquid propellant rockets from the seas
by Andrew Jones — June 30, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cz11-wey-sea-launch-high-res-peoples-daily-879x485.jpg)
Liftoff of the Long March 11 from a mobile platform in the Yellow Sea, June 5, 2019. Credit: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
TALLINN, Estonia — Chinese state-owned and commercial companies are developing capabilities to launch liquid propellant rockets from sea platforms to boost the country’s launch options.
China has already demonstrated the ability to launch the Long March 11 solid rocket from sea platforms. These have been facilitated by a new spaceport near Haiyang in the eastern coastal province of Shandong.
Now, private firms including Orienspace and the state-owned China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) are developing larger, liquid propellant Gravity series rockets and adapted Long March 8 launchers for sea launches.
https://spacenews.com/china-looks-to-launch-liquid-propellant-rockets-from-the-seas/
China prepares for July 24 launch of second space station module
by Andrew Jones — July 14, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/EVA1-exit-Shenzhou13-institute-of-physics-CAS-bilibili-CCTV-crop-A-879x485.jpg)
An image from Tianhe panoramic camera A during the first Shenzhou-13 spacewalk in November 2021. Credit: CMSA/CCTV/Chinese Academy of Sciences
Hausjärvi, FINLAND — China is gearing up to send a second module to its under-construction space station with a launch from the coastal Wenchang spaceport later this month.
A Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket will launch the roughly 22-ton Wentian experiment module around 02:20 a.m. ET (0620 UTC) July 24, according to recently announced area clearance notices consistent with such a launch.
https://spacenews.com/china-prepares-for-july-24-launch-of-second-space-station-module/
China’s heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket rolls out with new space station module
July 18, 2022 Stephen Clark [SN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220718lm5b-1.jpg)
The Long March 5B rocket slated to launch the Wentian module to China’s space station emerges from its assembly building Monday at the Wenchang launch base on Hainan Island. Credit: CMSE
China moved a heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket to its launch pad Monday in preparation for liftoff this weekend with a 22-ton module for the country’s Tiangong space station, a mission that could end with another uncontrolled re-entry of the Long March 5B’s large core stage.
The powerful launcher rolled from its assembly building to the launch pad Monday at the Wenchang launch center on Hainan Island in southern China. The Wentian module for China’s space station is encapsulated inside the rocket’s payload fairing.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/18/chinas-heavy-lift-long-march-5b-rocket-rolls-to-launch-pad-with-new-space-station-module/
Second module docks at China’s space station, large rocket stage tracked in orbit
by Andrew Jones — July 24, 2022 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/wentian-CZ5B-launch-24july2022-CNSA-Ourspace-879x485.jpg)
Liftoff of the third Long March 5B rocket, carrying the Wentian space station module into orbit on July 24, 2022. Credit: CNSA/Ourspace
HELSINKI — China added a new experiment module to its space station Sunday, following a high-profile launch from the country’s coastal spaceport.
The Wentian experiment module launched atop of a Long March 5B rocket at 2:22 a.m. Eastern from the Wenchang spaceport on the southern Chinese island of Hainan, with crowds watching on from nearby public beach areas.
https://spacenews.com/second-module-docks-at-chinas-space-station-large-rocket-stage-tracked-in-orbit/
New science lab for China’s space station launches on Long March 5B rocket
July 24, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220724lm5b.jpg)
A Long March 5B rocket lifts off with the Wentian module bound for China’s Tiangong space station.Credit: CASC
China’s heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket launched Sunday with the second major element of the Chinese Tiangong space station, sending the 25-ton Wentian science module on course for docking at the orbiting outpost.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/24/long-march-5b-wentian-launch/
Wentian science module docks with China’s space station
July 24, 2022 Stephen Clark [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20220724wentiandocked.jpg)
This illustration shows the configuration of the Tiangong space station after docking of the Wentian module (left) to the Tianhe core module (right). A Shenzhou crew spacecraft and Tianzhou cargo ship are also docked at the station. Credit: China Manned Space Agency
China’s Tiangong space station received a new room Sunday with the docking of the Wentian laboratory module, a half-day after launching on a heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket. The three-person crew on the Chinese space station later opened hatches and floated inside the new science module for the first time.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/07/24/wentian-science-module-docks-with-chinas-space-station/
China to complete selection of new taikonauts this year: space agency
Xinhua | Updated: 2023-05-29 16:10
JIUQUAN -- The selection of the fourth batch of taikonauts, China's new generation of astronauts, is proceeding as planned and will be completed by the end of this year, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced at a press conference on Monday.
The selection process was launched in 2022 and will result in 12 to 14 reserve taikonauts being picked, each with different specialisms, such as spacecraft pilots, flight engineers and payload specialists, said CMSA Spokesperson Lin Xiqiang.
"For the first time, the post of payload specialist is open to people from Hong Kong and Macao," Lin noted.
By March 2023, the first stage of the selection process had been completed, and more than 100 candidates then entered the second round, including more than 10 from Hong Kong and Macao.
According to Lin, candidates for the space pilot role are selected from among active military pilots, while flight engineers and payload experts are taken from industrial sectors as well as colleges and universities.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/29/WS64745df9a310b6054fad59fb.html
Astronauts meet in Tiangong space station core module
By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-31 04:44
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/31/647658b9a3107584e5945bd0.jpeg)
The Shenzhou XV and Shenzhou XVI crews pose in the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station on Tuesday, marking the start of the in-orbit crew handover, in this screen grab from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Shenzhou XVI mission crew, which includes the first Chinese civilian astronaut, reached orbit on Tuesday and started work in the Tiangong space station.
Aboard the Shenzhou XVI spacecraft, mission commander Major General Jing Haipeng, spaceflight engineer Colonel Zhu Yangzhu and Professor Gui Haichao, the mission's science payload specialist and the first Chinese civilian in space, were launched by a 20-story-tall Long March 2F carrier rocket, which blasted off at 9:31 am from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert.
After a short flight, the 8-metric-ton spaceship was placed into a low-Earth orbit about 400 kilometers above the planet and then activated the rapid rendezvous-docking mode to approach the Tiangong station.
On Tuesday afternoon, the spacecraft connected with the radial port on Tiangong's Tianhe core module.
After about two hours of preparatory work following the docking, Jing opened a hatch on the Shenzhou XVI spaceship and floated into Tianhe's connection cabin at 6:19 pm.
He was welcomed by Major General Fei Junlong, leader of the Shenzhou XV crew, who had been waiting inside the cabin.
"Let's hug! I am so happy!" Fei said as he embraced Jing.
Following Jing, Zhu and Gui moved into the connection cabin one by one, and they were also greeted and hugged by Fei.
The Shenzhou XVI trio then moved into the Tianhe module and hugged the other Shenzhou XV crew members — Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu — who were waiting there and recording the emotional moment on a smartphone.
The two crews chatted for a while before taking a group selfie to applause from the ground control staff.
The entire procedure was broadcast live on China Central Television.
The two teams are scheduled to stay together for about five days, and the Shenzhou XVI crew will then take over the massive orbital outpost from Fei's team, who have been in orbit for six months and will return to Earth as scheduled.
Jing and his crew members will stay in Tiangong for around five months and are scheduled to return to Earth in November. They will carry out several spacewalks during the mission to mount equipment outside the station and also conduct maintenance work, Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency, said at a news conference on Monday.
Other major tasks will include assisting with the docking and departure of visiting spacecraft such as cargo ships and a space-based telescope, conducting scientific experiments and demonstrations of technology, and hosting science lectures, Lin said.
The official said he expects that new scientific data in a wide range of research fields such as general relativity and the origins of life will be obtained during the Shenzhou XVI mission.
The journey is the debut flight of China's third generation of astronauts, and the first time a Chinese civilian has traveled into space.
Jing and Zhu are members of the People's Liberation Army's Astronaut Division, while Gui is a doctoral supervisor at the Department of Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle Technology of Beihang University's School of Astronautics in Beijing.
Lin said that after stringent training, all of the third-generation astronauts have passed qualification tests and have been cleared for space missions.
Moreover, the Shenzhou XVI mission is Jing's fourth spaceflight, making him China's most experienced astronaut.
According to Lin, China now has all prerequisites for sending foreign astronauts into space — a well-constructed space station, a reliable astronaut transportation system, and mature methods for astronauts' training and support.
"We are actively working on this matter. I very much welcome and look forward to foreign astronauts flying on board our space station," he said.
One of the world's largest and most advanced spacecraft, Tiangong currently consists of three major components, the Tianhe core module and the Wentian and Mengtian science lab modules, and it is connected to three visiting vessels, the Shenzhou XV and Shenzhou XVI crew craft and the Tianzhou 6 cargo ship.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/31/WS647658b9a3107584c3ac2f97.html
Shenzhou XVI spaceship transports seeds for breeding experiments
Xinhua | Updated: 2023-06-01 17:00
BEIJING -- Nine varieties of seeds, selected from North China's Shanxi province, have been sent into space onboard the country's Shenzhou XVI manned spaceship, according to the Science and Technology Daily on Thursday.
The seeds will be used for space experiments on the country's space station Tiangong.
They include a type of corn seed, developed by the Shanxi Agricultural University, that has a planting area of about 4 million mu (about 266,667 hectares) in the province, with high yields and wide adaptability, according to the report.
The seeds need further improvement, especially in disease resistance, through conventional breeding methods or space breeding.
Space breeding involves exposing seeds and strains to cosmic radiation and microgravity during a spaceflight mission to mutate their genes.
Since conducting its first space breeding experiment in 1987, China has sent the seeds of hundreds of plant species into space on dozens of retrievable satellites and Shenzhou spaceships.
The Shenzhou XVI manned spaceship was launched and docked with the space station combination on Tuesday.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202306/01/WS647856c6a3107584c3ac366f.html
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China to send 1st civilian into space aboard Shenzhou XVI
By ZHAO LEI | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-30 01:27
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/6474e08fa310b60580cdedc9.jpeg)
Jing Haipeng (center), commander of the Shenzhou XVI mission, Zhu Yangzhu (right), the mission's spaceflight engineer, and Gui Haichao, the mission's payload expert, meet the media on Monday at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.WANG JIANGBO / FOR CHINA DAILY
The Shenzhou XVI spacecraft will set out on Tuesday morning to transport three Chinese astronauts to the Tiangong space station, the China Manned Space Agency said on Monday.
The journey will be the maiden flight of China's third generation of astronauts, and the first time a Chinese civilian has traveled to space.
Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the agency, gave details of the flight at a news conference on Monday morning at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. The crew members of Shenzhou XVI — mission commander Major General Jing Haipeng, Colonel Zhu Yangzhu and Professor Gui Haichao — will be lifted in the spacecraft by a Long March 2F carrier rocket at 9:31 am on Tuesday from the Jiuquan center in the Gobi Desert.
On Monday morning, the Long March 2F rocket began being filled with propellants at the service tower, Lin said.
After the Shenzhou XVI enters orbit, rapid rendezvous-docking mode will be activated for the spacecraft to approach and then connect with the radial port on the Tianhe core module, according to the official.
Jing's team will take over the Tiangong space station from their peers from the Shenzhou XV mission — commander Major General Fei Junlong, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu — who arrived on Nov 30.
The Shenzhou XVI crew members will stay inside the Tiangong station for around five months and are scheduled to return in November. They will carry out several spacewalks during the mission to mount equipment outside the station and also conduct maintenance work, Lin said.
Other major tasks include assisting with the docking and departure of visiting spacecraft such as cargo ships and a space-based telescope, conducting scientific experiments and demonstrations of technology, and hosting science lectures, Lin said.
Jing and Zhu are members of the People's Liberation Army's Astronaut Division, while Gui is a doctoral supervisor at Beihang University's School of Astronautics' Department of Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle Technology in Beijing. All three crew members each have a doctorate.
It will be Jing's fourth spaceflight, making him China's most experienced astronaut.
Zhu, the spaceflight engineer, and Gui, the mission's science payload specialist, are the first members of the country's third generation of astronauts to enter the space.
During their stay inside the station, Jing and Zhu will be mainly responsible for operating and maintaining the entire space station and performing technological tests. Gui has been assigned to operate scientific devices and conduct experiments, Lin said.
Until the latest mission, all Chinese astronauts who have taken part in spaceflights have been members of the People's Liberation Army. The first two generations of astronauts were selected from experienced Air Force aviators.
However, the third generation of astronauts includes civilians. It is comprised of 17 men and one woman split into three groups: seven spacecraft pilots; seven spaceflight engineers; and four science payload specialists.
Yang Yuguang, a senior space industry observer and vice-chair of the International Astronautical Federation's space transportation committee, said that the inclusion of a spaceflight engineer and a scientist in the flight crew is the most important feature of the Shenzhou XVI mission.
"Professor Gui is engaged in the research of spacecraft dynamics and control technology, so I believe he has advantages when it comes to doing related experiments onboard the Tiangong station," he said.
Pang Zhihao, an expert on space exploration technology and a renowned writer on spaceflight, said: "The presence of an engineer and a scientist will enable more sophisticated experiments and tests to take place inside the space station because the new astronauts must have received more training for science and technology operations."
Lin said China will launch new modules in the future to connect with the Tiangong station to create more room and better conditions for astronauts to live and conduct scientific work. After that, Tiangong's configuration will be expanded from the current "T" shape to a cross shape.
Yang said the first of the new modules is expected to be a hub with multiple docking ports, which will allow more science labs to connect with the station.
Earlier this month, the Tianzhou 6 robotic cargo spaceship was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province to transport materials for the next manned missions. It was the first spacecraft to visit the Tiangong space station this year.
Orbiting about 400 kilometers above Earth, Tiangong on Monday consisted of three major components, the Tianhe core module and Wentian and Mengtian science lab modules, and it was also connected to two visiting craft, the Shenzhou XV crew ship and the Tianzhou 6 cargo ship.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS6474e08fa310b6054fad5a7d.html
Shenzhou XVI crew looks forward to challenge
By ZHAO LEI | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-30 01:30
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/64753ee7a310b60580cdf106.jpeg)
Shenzhou XVI crew members Zhu Yangzhu (right) and Gui Haichao take part in underwater training on March 29.Xu Bu / for China Daily
Jing Haipeng, commander of the Shenzhou XVI spaceflight, said on Monday that his crew is ready and confident to make their coming mission a full success.
"We will be the first crew to live and work inside the Tiangong space station since it entered the application and development phase. My crew consists of a spacecraft pilot, a spaceflight engineer and a science payload specialist. This means that we are going to face heavier, more difficult tasks," Jing said at a briefing with reporters a day ahead of the launch of the mission at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert.
He and his fellow astronauts — Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao — spent a lot of time and energy during their training improving their skills in terms of space station control and analysis, decision-making and response capabilities.
"We discussed and made detailed plans for scientific experiments, spacewalks, maintenance and repair work, health management, and especially emergency response procedures, because we all know that only after we have trained to reach the best of our skills and capabilities, could we handle any possible risks or emergencies," Jing said.
Despite Jing being 20 years older than his two fellow crew members, he said there is no generation gap between them. He described his two young peers as "energetic, diligent and self-motivated".
"We respect each other, learn from each other, and encourage and support each other. We are working toward the same goal," Jing said, noting that the crew members work harmoniously together.
Zhu, the spaceflight engineer on the Shenzhou XVI mission, said that he looks forward to his first space journey and will strive to accustom himself to the space environment as soon as possible.
"I will use my energy, enthusiasm and expertise to maintain the good condition of all equipment and make the best use of each scientific experiment to produce as many scientific and technological achievement as possible," he said.
Jing added that his crew will take paintings by children from 10 African nations — Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Nigeria, Somalia, South Africa and Zimbabwe — to the Tiangong space station and display them. Those children are among the winners of a Chinese spaceflight-themed picture contest for youngsters around the world.
"The exploration of the universe is a shared aspiration of all people on this planet no matter where you come from, which race you belong to or how old you are. We will take the best of the children's memories, friendship and dreams to outer space. We will plant the seeds of science, friendship and dreams in our space station and wait for them to grow, blossom and bear fruit," he said, encouraging all children around the world to follow their dreams.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS6474e140a310b6054fad5a87.html
China's Shenzhou XVI manned spaceship launched
chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-30 09:33
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS64755284a310b6054fad5bbd.html
Commander ready for record 4th mission
By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | China Daily | Updated: 2023-05-30 10:08
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/64755aada310b60580cdf720.jpeg)
The Shenzhou XVI crew (from left Zhu Yangzhu, Gui Haichao and Jing Haipeng) conducts rendezvous and docking training on Feb 28. XU BU/FOR CHINA DAILY
Interstellar veteran Jing Haipeng set to lead Shenzhou XVI team to orbiting Tiangong station
Major General Jing Haipeng, one of the first generation of Chinese astronauts, is an indisputable record-holder in China in terms of spaceflight experiences — he is the first Chinese person to return to space and the first to travel three times into orbit.
On Tuesday, he will become the first to carry out a fourth space journey through the coming Shenzhou XVI mission. He will also be a crew commander for the third time.
Born to a poor family in a village in Shanxi province's Yuncheng city, Jing is the first child of his farmer parents and has a brother and a sister.
Seeing his parents toiling day and night to raise their children, Jing studied very hard at school in the hope of going to university to get the family out of poverty and make his parents happy.
Jing recalled that because of the family's hardships, he never bought a single meal at middle school and lived on dry food and salted vegetables he brought on foot from home twice a week.
"The hard life had not only given me the guts to face difficulties and challenges, but also inspired me to pursue my dream," he said.
In his fourth year at middle school, the youngster saw in a pictorial some People's Liberation Army Air Force pilots training in their fighter jets.
"They were in aviator jackets and looked pretty cool. I wished I could be like them and become a fighter jet pilot safeguarding our motherland's blue skies," Jing said.
The opportunity soon came in March 1985 when officers from the PLA Air Force came to his school to recruit flight students. The young man applied and took part in the selection process.
Three months later, he was admitted to an Air Force flight college in Baoding, Hebei province.
After five and a half years of intense training, Jing had impressed his instructors and graduated, and was designated to a fighter jet unit at the age of 24.
"Soon after I began to serve in the unit, one of my comrades died in flight training. He played basketball with us the day before the tragedy and left forever the next day. I was very sad but I understood that from the first day we became a military member and a pilot, we should all be dedicated to the nation and must get ready for possible sacrifices," the astronaut recalled.
"I always told myself that top aviators only come from those who train the hardest."
In the years in the fighter jet unit, Jing accumulated more than 1,200 hours of flight time and was recognized as a good pilot.
In the summer of 1996, Jing was told by his commander to undergo physical examinations at a sanatorium in Zhejiang province without knowing the reason.
He soon learned that the body check was part of the selection for China's first astronauts.
Seasoned traveler
After rounds of tough tests, Jing stood out among some 1,500 peers and was picked as one of the founding members of the PLA Astronaut Division in January 1998.
Jing and his colleagues in the division were supposed to receive and pass nearly 100 training subjects in five years including physics, astronautics, astronomy, space medicine as well as spacecraft operations.
"Each of us was likely to be 'eliminated' at any time if we failed tests, which were very difficult and demanding," he said.
"During my first 10 years at the division, I spent almost all of my time studying and training. I rarely went to bed before midnight because I was aware that I was racing against time to turn myself into a qualified astronaut."
In 2005, Jing was selected as a backup crew member on the Shenzhou VI mission.
Three years later, he was chosen to be a formal member of the Shenzhou VII flight team.
In September 2008, the Shenzhou VII crew — Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing — completed China's third manned spaceflight in their three-day orbital trip. During the mission, Jing assisted Zhai and Liu who made the country's first spacewalk.
In June 2012, Jing was named commander of the Shenzhou IX mission and embarked on his second spaceflight with two fellow astronauts — Liu Yang, who became the first Chinese woman in space through this mission, and Liu Wang.
The Shenzhou IX crew carried out the first astronaut-controlled docking between two spacecraft. They were the first Chinese astronauts to move into another spaceship in orbit.
In October 2016, Jing took part in his third space journey — on the Shenzhou XI — with Chen Dong. The pair flew 33 days in space, including 30 days onboard the Tiangong II experimental space station, performing the longest space mission by Chinese astronauts by that time.
During the monthlong flight, Jing and Chen conducted 38 scientific and technological assignments, ranging from running a trial on a robotic arm in-orbit to observing microgravity's effects on the cardiovascular system.
During this mission, they would become the first Chinese astronauts to run in space, because one task was to test a specially designed treadmill inside the Tiangong II.
"We were supposed to test the equipment's performance and obtain exercise data, because running in a weightless environment could only be done in space," Jing said.
"But as it was the first time for any Chinese astronaut to use a treadmill in space, Chen and I failed many times because we couldn't get used to the new machine."
After a long time trying, the two finally discovered some "tricks" and accumulated experience doing physical exercise that has been proved useful in following long-term orbital missions, he noted.
"During our video link with President Xi Jinping, I reported to him that China's manned space program 'has reached a new height' and we were proud of our great motherland," Jing said.
Aspiration for flight
"Each time I returned to Earth, people asked me the same question, 'Do you want to fly again?' My answer was always the same, 'I desperately want to go into space again!'" the veteran astronaut recalled.
Jing said he and his colleagues are aware that manned spaceflights are a glorious cause that is worth risking their lives for the pursuit of exploration and pioneering.
"You will know why spaceflight is deemed an adventurous cause when you are surrounded by the thunder of rocket engines. Nevertheless, this cause is one that we are willing to use our lives to pursue," he said.
"For me, I have been awarded many honors by the people and the Party. I was given an August 1 Medal by President Xi and also elected as a delegate to the Party's 19th National Congress. I think the best way for me to repay the debt I owe this nation is to try to carry out every assignment to the best of my abilities," Jing said.
He added that Chinese astronauts who have been in space share the same feeling.
"The farther we flew away from Earth, the nearer our hearts and thoughts were to the motherland. Each time we flew across China, our heartbeat would accelerate and our eyes would focus on our territories and seas.
"We want to thank all the scientists, engineers and workers who paved the way for our flights. Hundreds of thousands of them spent numerous days and nights designing, producing and testing rockets, spacecraft and equipment. They are also heroes and heroines," Jing said.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS64755aada310b6054fad5c1c.html
Chiny zapowiadają rozbudowę stacji do 6. modułów o masie 180 ton ( obecne 3 moduły mają po ok. 22 ton).
Będzie to możliwe dzięki połączeniu z CSS wielofunkcyjnego modułu z sześcioma portami.
Trwają także prace nad modułami nadmuchiwanymi.
Czyli Chiny biorą przykład z przetestowanych już gdzie indziej rozwiązań.
China to send new modules and co-orbiting spacecraft to Tiangong space station
Andrew Jones October 4, 2023 [SN]
Expansion hubs, new modules, inflatable habitats and more planned for China’s space station
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/CSS-Tiangong-expansion-plans-IAC-4oct2023-AJ-SN1-1200x659.jpg)
Plans for expanding the Tiangong space station. Credit: Andrew Jones/SpaceNews
(...) A Hubble-class co-orbiting space telescope, named Xuntian, is planned to be launched around 2024. It will be able to dock with Tiangong for maintenance, repairs, refueling and upgrades.
Zhang’s presentation also noted that more spacecraft will “probably fly co-orbitally with CSS [Chinese space station] to receive on-orbit services.”
The CSS will gradually play an important role as a “space home port,” according to Zhang. (...)
https://spacenews.com/china-to-send-new-modules-and-co-orbiting-spacecraft-to-tiangong-space-station/
China rolls out rocket for Shenzhou-17 mission to Tiangong
Andrew Jones October 19, 2023 [SN]
(https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Shenzhou17-rollout-19oct2023-CMSA-1-1200x798.jpg)
The Long March 2F rocket to launch Shenzhou-17 being transferred to the pad at Jiuquan, Oct. 19, 2023. Credit: CMSEO
NEW DELHI, India — A crew of three astronauts is set to launch to China’s Tiangong space station next week for a six-month-long mission.
A Long March 2F rocket was rolled out to the pad at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, northwest China, early Oct. 19. The rocket is tipped with the Shenzhou-17 crew spacecraft and a telltale escape system atop the payload fairing.
https://spacenews.com/china-rolls-out-rocket-for-shenzhou-17-mission-to-tiangong/
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China's first civilian astronaut makes history
By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-30 10:12
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/6475686da310b60580cdfa3e.jpeg)
Gui Haichao, the first Chinese civilian on a spaceflight, reached orbit on Tuesday morning shortly after the spacecraft carrying him and another two Shenzhou XVI mission astronauts lifted off from northwestern China.
Sitting inside the Shenzhou XVI spacecraft, Gui and his commander Major General Jing Haipeng and fellow astronaut Colonel Zhu Yangzhu were launched by a 20-story-tall Long March 2F carrier rocket that blasted off at 9:31 am at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gobi Desert.
After a short flight, the spaceship was placed into a low-Earth orbit about 400 kilometers above the planet.
Within hours of the launch, the eight-metric-ton manned craft is due to approach and dock with the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station.
The crew will then move into the Tiangong to meet their peers from the Shenzhou XV mission — commander Major General Fei Junlong, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu — who arrived on Nov 30. The newly arrived crew will then take over the massive orbital outpost, one of the world's largest and most advanced spacecraft, from Fei's team, which will return to Earth in coming days as per schedule.
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/6475686da310b60580cdfa44.jpeg)
The Shenzhou XVI crew members will stay inside the Tiangong space station for around five months and are scheduled to return in November. They will carry out several spacewalks during the mission to mount equipment outside the station and also conduct maintenance work, Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency, said at a news conference on Monday.
Other major tasks include assisting with the docking and departure of visiting spacecraft such as cargo ships and a space-based telescope, conducting scientific experiments and demonstrations of technology, and hosting science lectures, Lin said.
The journey is the maiden flight of China's third generation of astronauts, and the first time a Chinese civilian has traveled to space.
Jing and Zhu are members of the People's Liberation Army's Astronaut Division, while Gui is a doctoral supervisor at the Department of Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle Technology of Beihang University's School of Astronautics in Beijing. All three crew members each have a doctorate.
Until the latest mission, all Chinese astronauts who have taken part in spaceflights have been military personnel. The first two generations of astronauts were selected from experienced Air Force aviators.
The third generation of astronauts, which was grouped around October 2020, includes civilians. It is comprised of 17 men and one woman split into three groups: seven spacecraft pilots; seven spaceflight engineers; and four science payload specialists.
Zhu, the spaceflight engineer in the team, and Gui, the mission's science payloads specialist, are the first members of the third-generation astronauts to enter the space.
Moreover, it is Jing's fourth spaceflight, making him China's most experienced astronaut.
Before the arrival of Shenzhou XVI spacecraft, the Tiangong currently consists of three major components, the Tianhe core module and Wentian and Mengtian science lab modules, and it was also connected to two visiting craft, the Shenzhou XV crew ship and the Tianzhou 6 cargo ship.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS64755b87a310b6054fad5c22.html
Gui Haichao to be 1st Chinese civilian in space
By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | China Daily | Updated: 2023-05-30 10:27
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/64755f2fa310b60580cdf794.jpeg)
The Shenzhou XVI crew operate a medical research program during their training on March 9. XU BU/FOR CHINA DAILY
The vocation of astronaut had for a long time seemed "sacred and distant" to Gui Haichao until the researcher became a member of the Astronaut Center of China. The 36-year-old from Yunnan province will become the first Chinese civilian to fly in space.
Fifteen years ago, Gui was a senior at the School of Astronautics under Beihang University, formerly known as the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, majoring in spacecraft design and engineering.
"When Jing Haipeng was flying onboard the Shenzhou VII spaceship in September 2008, I was still a university student. I watched the live broadcast of our nation's first spacewalk that was carried out by the Shenzhou VII crew," he said during a recent interview at the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing before heading to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center for his maiden flight.
"I just couldn't even imagine at that time that I would become a colleague of his and train and live in the same place. And now I am an astronaut in his crew and we will fly together to the space station," said Gui, now a professor and doctoral supervisor at Beihang University.
In the following years, Gui continued his study at Beihang and graduated in the summer of 2014 with a doctor's degree in spacecraft design.
The young researcher then spent two years in a post-doctoral program working on integrated directional and orbital control technology for sophisticated spacecraft at the Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering at York University in Toronto.
In the summer of 2016, Gui undertook post-doctoral research on the detection of small celestial bodies and high-precision forecast technology for spacecraft movement at the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Ryerson University, which was later renamed Toronto Metropolitan University.
He returned to Beihang in September 2017 after receiving the university's invitation to teach as an associate professor at the School of Astronautics.
At Beihang, the researcher's academic interests included spacecraft dynamics, guidance, navigation and control technology for aerospace systems. He has published more than 50 journal articles and academic conference papers.
In the spring of 2018, Gui and his colleagues were told by the school's president that China's manned space authorities had decided to select the third batch of astronauts, including the first spaceflight engineers and science payloads specialists.
"The president told us that the posts of spaceflight engineer and science payloads specialist would be open to civilians working for nonmilitary research entities. He said this was a very precious opportunity and encouraged those interested to apply.
"I have been a fan of space exploration for many years and sometimes dreamed about doing my research in space, so I was excited hearing this news and immediately came to the school's administrative office to fill in the application form," the academic recalled.
After rounds of physical checks and professional tests, Gui earned a place in the elite club and started training at the Astronaut Center of China.
According to Wang Yue, a classmate and co-worker of Gui at the School of Astronautics, Gui told him privately that the physical training at the astronaut center was "intense and demanding" and posed a huge challenge to him.
"But he didn't quit and managed to pass all tests," Wang said.
Su Wenjie, Gui's first doctoral student, said the professor did not relax his attention and instruction on his students after he started training at the astronaut center.
"When his training schedule wasn't so tight, Professor Gui would read my papers and send me some articles he thought might be of help to my research," she said.
Speaking about his experience at the astronaut center, Gui said: "After joining this team, the 'heroes and heroines' I had watched on TV and in the newspaper became the training mentors, sports mates, close friends as well as co-workers of us, the new astronauts."
Thanks to his perseverance and diligence, Gui progressed rapidly in every training course and was chosen for the Shenzhou XVI mission to become the first civilian and scientist in this country to travel in orbit.
During the coming flight, Gui will be responsible for operating, maintaining and repairing science equipment. He will control experiments and collect, sort and conduct initial analysis of data.
The professor said he feels fortunate and honored to become the first Chinese science payloads specialist to fly in space.
"I am sure that with mission commander Jing's guidance and the crew members' close cooperation, we will successfully perform our duties. We will use our efforts to contribute to the great 'New Era' and meet the expectations of the Party and the people," Gui said.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS64755f2fa310b6054fad5c30.html
Engineer has been fan of flight since boyhood
By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | China Daily Global | Updated: 2023-05-30 10:32
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/64756043a310b60580cdf7f4.jpeg)
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao, three astronauts of China's Shenzhou XVI mission, in training. [Photo by Xu Bu/chinadaily.com.cn]
Zhu Yangzhu, the spaceflight engineer for the Shenzhou XVI mission, said he has loved the blue sky, aircraft and flying since he was a boy.
When he was a middle school student, Zhu recalled, he often did physical exercises on equipment designed for pilots at his school, which cooperates with the People's Liberation Army Air Force in selecting students for flight school.
"Before the national college entrance examination, I applied for a major in spacecraft systems and engineering at the National University of Defense Technology, and my second choice was a major in aircraft design and engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. I made these choices because I wanted to learn about flight," Zhu told reporters at the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing before setting out to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center ahead of the Shenzhou XVI launch.
Because of his high grades, Zhu was admitted to the College of Aerospace Science and Engineering under the National University of Defense Technology in Changsha, the top educational body in the Chinese military for science and technology, in the summer of 2005 and remained there for the following decade.
At the university, Zhu was known for his dedication to study and research. He was also good at physical exercise, according to his classmates.
Peng Ke, a classmate, recalled that Zhu often ran 10 kilometers during exercises while other students usually ran 3 km. Zhu also likes cycling, Peng said, noting that one time Zhu rode for 14 hours to travel to Loudi, another city in Hunan province about 150 km from Changsha.
"He was outstanding at the university when it came to body strength," Peng said. "There was a 'flying wheel' in the university that was used to hone aviators' endurance. A lot of us tried it but we just couldn't resist the strong nausea caused by the fast spinning. But it seemed pretty easy for Zhu to use it."
At the end of 2015, Zhu graduated from the university with a doctorate and then reported to an infrastructure construction unit of the PLA to assume his first engineering post. He also took part in a post-doctoral program run by the PLA Army Engineering University in Nanjing.
In 2017, he was transferred to the PLA Strategic Support Force's Space Engineering University to help establish a mechanics laboratory.
In the summer of 2018, Zhu heard about the selection of China's third-generation astronauts and decided to throw his hat in the ring.
"I didn't make it into the Air Force to fly fighter jets in blue skies, but then came this opportunity for me to fly spacecraft outside of Earth's atmosphere, so I was determined to try my best to chase it," he recalled.
After many difficult tests, Zhu stood out among thousands of applicants and was recruited by the PLA Astronaut Division in October 2020.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS64756043a310b6054fad5c35.html
China starts drilling superdeep borehole in landmark deep-Earth exploration
Xinhua | Updated: 2023-05-30 14:14
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/31/64769f26a3107584e5946124.jpeg)
This aerial photo taken on May 30, 2023 shows the drilling project of a borehole over 10,000 meters deep for scientific exploration in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo/Xinhua]
URUMQI -- The drilling of China's first borehole over 10,000 meters deep for scientific exploration began on Tuesday in the Tarim Basin, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.
The operation started at 11:46 am on Tuesday. It represents a landmark in China's deep-Earth exploration, providing an unprecedented opportunity to study areas of the planet deep beneath the surface.
With a design depth of 11,100 meters, the borehole is located in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, the largest desert in China.
During the drilling process, the equipment, including drill bits and drill pipes weighing more than 2,000 tonnes, will go deep into the Earth, penetrating more than 10 continental strata, including the Cretaceous system.
Wang Chunsheng, a technical expert who joined the operation, said that drilling a borehole over 10,000 meters deep is a bold attempt to explore the unknown territory of the Earth and expand the boundaries of human understanding.
"The construction difficulty of the drilling project can be compared to a big truck driving on two thin steel cables," said Sun Jinsheng, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
The Tarim Basin is one of the most difficult areas to explore due to its harsh ground environment and complicated underground conditions.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS64759456a310b6054fad5cde.html
Shenzhou XVI vessel docks with space station combination
By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-30 16:37
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/6475c071a310b60580cdff07.png)
The Shenzhou XVI spacecraft docks with the Tiangong space station, on May 30, 2023. [Photo/CCTV News app]
The Shenzhou XVI spacecraft docked with the Tiangong space station on Tuesday afternoon, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
After a 6.5-hour rendezvous-docking process, the Shenzhou XVI, with three astronauts inside it, connected with the radial port of the Tianhe core module at 4:29 pm, the agency said in a brief news release.
The Shenzhou XVI mission crew - commander Major General Jing Haipeng; Colonel Zhu Yangzhu, the spaceflight engineer in the team; and Professor Gui Haichao, the mission's science payloads specialist - will enter the core module to meet their peers from the Shenzhou XV mission — commander Major General Fei Junlong, Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu — who arrived on Nov 30.
This will become the second time for six Chinese astronauts to gather in orbit.
The newly arrived crew will then take over the massive orbital outpost, one of the world's largest and most advanced spacecraft, from Fei's team, which will return to Earth in coming days as per schedule.
By now, the outgoing Shenzhou XV flight crew has prepared for the new team's arrival and handover work, according to the space agency.
Jing and his crew were launched by a Long March 2F carrier rocket that blasted off at 9:31 am Tuesday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert.
They will stay inside the Tiangong space station for around five months and are scheduled to return in November.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS6475b5d9a310b6054fad5d27.html
Shenzhou XVI crew docks, meets Shenzhou XV peers
By ZHAO LEI at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-05-30 18:26
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/6475ea3fa310b60580cdfff7.jpeg)
The Shenzhou XVI mission crew has entered the Tiangong space station and met the Shenzhou XV team. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Shenzhou XVI mission crew has entered the Tiangong space station and met the Shenzhou XV team.
After about two hours of preparatory work following the docking of the Shenzhou XVI spacecraft with the Tiangong space station in a low-Earth orbit of about 400 kilometers, Major General Jing Haipeng, the Shenzhou XVI mission commander, floated into the station's connection cabin at 6:19 pm.
He was welcomed by Major General Fei Junlong, leader of the Shenzhou XV crew, who had been waiting inside the cabin. "Let's hug! I am so happy!" Fei said as he embraced Jing.
Following Jing, astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao moved into the connection cabin one by one and were greeted by Fei.
The Shenzhou XVI trio then entered the Tianhe core module and greeted their Shenzhou XV peers — Senior Colonel Deng Qingming and Senior Colonel Zhang Lu — who were using a mobile phone to record the emotional moment.
The two teams chatted for a while before taking a group selfie to applause from ground controllers.
The entire process was broadcast live on China Central Television.
The six astronauts are scheduled to stay together for about five days and the Shenzhou XVI crew will then take over the massive orbital outpost — one of the world's largest and most advanced spacecraft — from Fei's team, who have stayed in orbit for six months and will return to Earth on schedule.
Jing's crew set out from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China on Tuesday morning. They will stay inside the Tiangong space station for around five months and are scheduled to return in November.
The journey is the maiden flight of China's third generation of astronauts, and the first time a Chinese civilian has traveled to space.
It is also Jing's fourth spaceflight, making him China's most experienced astronaut.
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202305/30/6475ea3fa310b60580cdfff9.jpeg)
The Shenzhou XVI mission crew has entered the Tiangong space station and met the Shenzhou XV team. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202305/30/WS6475cf61a310b6054fad5d52.html
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China discloses tasks of Shenzhou-18 crewed space mission (https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=5808.msg190806#msg190806)
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-04-24 10:07:46
(https://english.news.cn/20240424/560ffef95eb94bdd9ef9dee957d4e224/38c80423dd484c2aa821079c90354fd5.jpg)
A press conference is held in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on April 24, 2024. Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu will carry out the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceflight mission, and Ye will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Wednesday. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)
(...) During the mission, the country's first in-orbit aquatic ecological research project will be implemented. Using zebrafish and goldfish algae to establish a self-cycling aquatic ecosystem in orbit, the project aims to make to a breakthrough in the cultivation of vertebrates in space, according to Lin.
The world's first in-orbit stem cell study on the plant's stem tips will be made to reveal the mechanism of plant evolutionary adaptation to gravity and provide theoretical support for space cropping, said Lin.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts will carry out two to three extravehicular activities (EVAs), implement six cargo outbound deliveries via the station's cargo airlock module.
During the EVAs, the astronauts will install space debris protection reinforcements for extravehicular piping, cables and critical equipment, and carry out extravehicular inspections, as appropriate, to further safeguard the safety of the space station, said Lin. ■
https://english.news.cn/20240424/560ffef95eb94bdd9ef9dee957d4e224/c.html
China to launch Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship on April 25
Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2024-04-24 12:05:45
(https://english.news.cn/20240424/f15be1b0171c496c98d581eb49ebc68c/nN38ACn3vEfMskdF.jpeg)
This undated photo shows Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu (C), Li Cong (R) and Li Guangsu who will carry out the Shenzhou-18 spaceflight mission. Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu will carry out the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceflight mission, and Ye will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Wednesday. (Xinhua)
(...) After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-18 spaceship will perform a fast automated rendezvous and docking with the radial port of the space station core module Tianhe in about 6.5 hours, forming a combination of three modules and three spacecraft, Lin said.
During their stay in orbit, the Shenzhou-18 crew will witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship, Lin said.
The space station combination is now in a stable status with all equipment functioning well. Product qualities of the Shenzhou-18 spaceship and the Long March-2F carrier rocket are under control, Lin added.
The Shenzhou-18 crew is in good condition, while the ground system facilities are in stable operation. All preparations for the launch have been completed, Lin said. (...)
https://english.news.cn/20240424/f15be1b0171c496c98d581eb49ebc68c/c.html
Shenzhou-18 set for launch at 8:59 pm on April 25, marking China's 32nd manned flight into space
By Fan Anqi in Jiuquan Published: Apr 24, 2024 12:31 PM
(...) Compared with the previous Long March-2F used in the Shenzhou-17 mission, the new rocket has undergone 32 technical improvements, making it safer and more reliable. The reliability assessment of the rocket has been increased from 0.9896 to 0.9903, and its safety assessment has reached 0.99996, according to information shared by rocket developers with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT).
Since the space station started construction, the Long March-2F rocket has entered a normalized fast-paced launch state.
In order to quickly and stably send taikonauts into space, the rocket development team has continuously explored the optimization of the launch site preparation process. Now, the preparation process of the Long March 2F rocket has been reduced from 49 days in the early stage to 30 days, according to CALT.
Moreover, the development team has also used digital means such as remote measurement and control support systems to achieve real-time interconnection of rocket test data, making data interpretation more efficient and accurate. At the same time, the number of launch site personnel has been reduced by about 40 percent, further improving work efficiency.
As the country's only active manned launch vehicle, the Long March-2F rocket has been specially designed with a unique fault detection system and escape rescue system. Over the past 20 years, it has maintained a 100 percent launch success rate. Although the escape rescue system has never been used, researchers made numerous improvements and refinements behind the scene to better safeguard the taikonauts' safety.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202404/1311183.shtml
China reveals Shenzhou-18 crew for next space station mission
Holly Chik Published: 4:14pm, 24 Apr 2024
(...) Deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency Lin Xiqiang said the crew would begin China’s first in-orbit aquatic ecology project.
Lin told reporters on Wednesday that the mission would establish a stable “self-circulating aquatic ecosystem” in orbit using zebrafish and hornwort, with the goal of achieving a “breakthrough in cultivating vertebrates in space”.
Scientists view the zebrafish as a model vertebrate because of its relatively small and simple brain. With its fully sequenced genome, the tiny freshwater species has helped scientists make new discoveries and technological advancements.
Last month, for example, a Chinese research team created real-time imagery of the 100,000 neurons in a zebrafish, which could lead to advances in mind-controlled computers. (...)
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3260183/china-reveals-shenzhou-18-crew-next-space-station-mission
Shenzhou-18 taikonauts start journey to space station for more sci-tech experiments
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-04-25 22:19:45
(https://english.news.cn/20240425/f04070d8817a42f69f1c74dcb0a7cf32/ccMGdSp4vobnBvyT.jpeg)
JIUQUAN, April 25 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday launched the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship that will send three taikonauts to the orbiting Tiangong space station for a six-month mission.
The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 8:59 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
About 10 minutes after the launch, the Shenzhou-18 spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The crew members are in good shape and the launch is a "complete success," the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced. (...)
https://english.news.cn/20240425/f04070d8817a42f69f1c74dcb0a7cf32/c.html
China’s Shenzhou-18 crew arrive at Tiangong space station
Andrew Jones April 25, 2024 [SN]
(https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shenzhou18-docking-Tiangong-radial-port-25april2024-CMSEO.jpg?w=1337&ssl=1)
A mission control representation of the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft approaching Tiangong's radial docking port, April 25, 2024. Credit: CMSEO
HELSINKI — China’s latest crew of three astronauts arrived at the Tiangong space station Thursday following launch from Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert.
The Shenzhou-18 spacecraft completed rendezvous and docking with Tiangong’s radial docking port at 3:32 p.m. Eastern (1932 UTC), April 25, China’s human spaceflight agency announced shortly after the event.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts—commander Ye Guangfu and rookies Li Cong and Li Guangsu—will soon be greeted aboard Tiangong by the Shenzhou-17 crew upon opening of the hatch.
https://spacenews.com/chinas-shenzhou-18-crew-arrive-at-tiangong-space-station/
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/04/shenzhou-18/
Odłączenie Shenzhou-17 od CSS nastąpiło 30.04.2024 o 00:43 UTC {02:43 CEST).
China's Shenzhou-17 separates from space station combination, starts journey home (https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=5541.msg190906#msg190906)
Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2024-04-30 10:48:00
JIUQUAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship separated from the country's space station combination at 8:43 a.m. Tuesday (Beijing Time), according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Three astronauts aboard, Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin, are returning to Earth after staying in orbit for about half a year.
The CMSA said that prior to the separation, the Shenzhou-17 crew, with the assistance of the ground staff, completed various tasks such as setting the status of the space station combination, processing and transmitting the experimental data, and transferring remaining supplies, and then carried out handover work with the Shenzhou-18 crew. (...)
https://english.news.cn/20240430/d53e7825a89248368115d7e91139e2ec/c.html
Zebrafish on China's space station in good condition: experts
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-05-19 22:57:15
BEIJING, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The four zebrafish kept on China's Tiangong space station, which is orbiting about 400 km above Earth, are currently in good condition, experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) said Sunday.
The experts revealed details of the latest developments concerning the country's first in-orbit aquatic ecological research project at a public science day event in Beijing.
On April 25, along with the three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft, four zebrafish and four grams of goldfish algae went into space, and these have been used to establish a self-cycling aquatic ecosystem in orbit, making a breakthrough in the field of raising of vertebrates in space.
According to Zheng Weibo, a researcher at Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics of the CAS, the astronauts have managed to collect water samples twice and have replaced the fish food box once. They found that the zebrafish were showing directional behavior anomalies, such as inverted swimming and rotary movement, in the microgravity environment on Tiangong.
Using the likes of water and fish egg samples, among others, scientists will carry out research on the impact of the space environment on the growth, development and behavior of vertebrates, as well as the material cycle of confined ecosystems in space, Zheng said.
Zebrafish, as a model animal with genetic similarity to humans, can be used for research on many human diseases, said Wang Gaohong, a researcher at the Institute of Hydrobiology of the CAS.
"Meanwhile, like astronauts, zebrafish need to pass through rounds of selection to become 'aquastronauts,'" Wang added. ■
https://english.news.cn/20240519/5094885d46be4d81b94ec40e9cec8337/c.html
https://twitter.com/wulei2020/status/1792110263178838087
Shenzhou-18 crew members complete first spacewalk (https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=5808.msg191566#msg191566)
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-05-28 23:05:45
(https://english.news.cn/20240528/193b447f60db438e985a8cc6e8769195/hyrM1x6XFi14pidW.jpeg)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on May 28, 2024 shows Shenzhou-18 astronaut Ye Guangfu performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-18 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Shenzhou-18 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed the first spacewalk of their mission at 6:58 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu worked for about eight-and-a-half hours in completing multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices, and were assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth.
The task has set a new record for the longest single spacewalk by Chinese astronauts.
Ye and Li Guangsu, the two crew members assigned the spacewalk duty, have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.
This marked Ye's second extravehicular activity (EVA), following his initial spacewalk during the Shenzhou-13 mission, while Li Guangsu embarked on a spacewalk for the first time.
The mission will involve numerous other tasks, with the Shenzhou-18 crew set to engage in a slew of scheduled space science experiments and technical tests, while they will also undertake additional extravehicular activities and install payloads outside the space station, according to the CMSA.
So far, Chinese astronauts have successfully carried out a total of 16 EVAs. On Sept. 27, 2008, astronaut Zhai Zhigang in Shenzhou-7 mission made history as China's first person to conduct a spacewalk, which lasted approximately 19 minutes.
The Shenzhou-15 crew has achieved a milestone by performing four spacewalks, marking the highest number of EVAs by a single Chinese astronaut crew.
The Shenzhou-17 crew completed, for the first time, the in-orbit maintenance of extravehicular facilities during their second spacewalk, which lasted approximately eight hours. ■
https://english.news.cn/20240528/193b447f60db438e985a8cc6e8769195/c.html
China chooses 2 teams to develop low-cost space station cargo spacecraft
Andrew Jones October 29, 2024
(https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Shenzhou15-EVA-2-robotic-arm-camera-1-CMSA.jpg?resize=1200%2C679&ssl=1)
A Shenzhou-15 astronaut wearing a Feitian EVA suit with red markings emerges from the Wentian module, as imaged by a camera on the Tiangong robotic arm. Credit: CMSA
HELSINKI — China’s human spaceflight agency has selected two proposals to develop spacecraft for low-cost space station resupply missions, echoing earlier moves by NASA.
The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) opened a call last year for proposals for low-cost cargo transportation systems to serve the Tiangong space station. Four proposals from 10 submissions were chosen to enter a detailed design phase in September 2023. (...)
https://spacenews.com/china-chooses-2-teams-to-develop-low-cost-space-station-cargo-spacecraft/
China unveils Shenzhou-19 crew for space station mission (https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=6047.msg194667#msg194667)
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-10-29 10:13:00
(https://english.news.cn/20241029/7654ba0466cc4330a733cbb83a0afb78/jxsj84PeVfyY6WsV.jpeg)
This photo shows Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze who will carry out the Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission. Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze will carry out the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, and Cai will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Tuesday. (Xinhua)
JIUQUAN, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze will carry out the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceflight mission, and Cai will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
The Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 4:27 a.m. Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson of the agency.
Cai completed the Shenzhou-14 space mission in 2022. Song and Wang, among the third batch of Chinese astronauts, are newcomers to space. Both of them were born in the 1990s.
Song was a former air force pilot before being selected as an astronaut, and Wang previously served as a senior engineer at the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Wang is currently China's only female space flight engineer and will become the third Chinese woman to embark on a crewed spaceflight mission, the agency noted.
The Shenzhou-19 astronauts will complete in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-18 trio and stay at the space station for approximately six months, witnessing the arrival of the Tianzhou-8 cargo craft and Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship during the mission.
Many tasks await the new crew to complete: conducting space science and application tests, performing extravehicular activities, installing protective devices against space debris, installing and recycling extravehicular payloads and equipment. They will also engage in science education, public welfare activities, and other payload tests.
The Shenzhou-19 astronauts are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in late April or early May next year, according to the agency. ■
https://english.news.cn/20241029/7654ba0466cc4330a733cbb83a0afb78/c.html
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Start nastąpił 29.10.2024 o 21:27 CET
Xinhua Headlines: Shenzhou-19 astronauts start journey to China's space station for new endeavors
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-10-30 05:24:45
(https://english.news.cn/20241030/1149d79f1c114d6ca6f10262537333bd/ctItfPeWiJM5RXoD.jpeg)
Chinese astronauts Cai Xuzhe (C), Song Lingdong (R) and Wang Haoze attend a see-off ceremony at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Oct. 30, 2024. A see-off ceremony for three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 crewed space mission was held early Wednesday morning at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua) ■
by Xinhua writers Zhang Dan, Wang Chenxi and Quan Xiaoshu
JIUQUAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- China launched the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship on Wednesday, sending three astronauts -- including the country's first female space engineer -- to its orbiting space station for a six-month mission.
The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 4:27 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (...)
https://english.news.cn/20241030/1149d79f1c114d6ca6f10262537333bd/c.html
Shenzhou-19 spacecraft arrives at Tiangong for crew rotation
Andrew Jones October 30, 2024
(https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/shenzhou19-docked-tiangong-30oct2024-ourspace.jpg?resize=1200%2C794&ssl=1)
A view of the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft from the Tiangong space station. Credit: Ourspace
HELSINKI — China is conducting its fifth crew rotation aboard the Tiangong space station after the arrival of three astronauts aboard Shenzhou-19.
Six astronauts are now aboard the space station following the docking of the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft at Tiangong at around 11:00 p.m. Eastern, Oct. 29. The astronauts were born variously in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. (...)
https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-19-spacecraft-arrives-at-tiangong-for-crew-rotation/
Update: Shenzhou-19 astronauts start journey to China's space station for new endeavors
Source: XinhuaEditor: huaxia2024-10-30 04:46:17
https://english.news.cn/20241030/56ae6baa39294df88b763ba72fe5908e/c.html
Xinhua Headlines: Shenzhou-19 astronauts start journey to China's space station for new endeavors
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-10-30 07:56:32
https://english.news.cn/20241030/1149d79f1c114d6ca6f10262537333bd/c.html
Shenzhou-19 astronauts enter space station
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-10-30 14:43:45
(https://english.news.cn/20241030/979ccf6c23f74e6f8f0b666550e1c33d/62ce5cf4be82472eb1143d8fa115c506.jpg)
This image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Oct. 30, 2024 shows the crew of Shenzhou-18 and Shenzhou-19 manned spaceships talking with each other. The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission have entered the Tiangong space station and met with another astronaut trio on Wednesday, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover. (Xinhua/Li Jie)
BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The three astronauts of China's Shenzhou-19 spaceflight mission have entered the Tiangong space station and met with another astronaut trio on Wednesday, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover.
https://english.news.cn/20241030/979ccf6c23f74e6f8f0b666550e1c33d/c.html
China taikonaut trio arrives at the Tiangong space station
October 29, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith [SFN]
(https://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/20241029_Shenzhou-19_on_orbit.jpg)
The taikonauts of the Shenzhou-19 mission meet their counterparts from Shenzhou-18 onboard the Tiangong space station several hours after lifting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. Image: CNSA via CCTV
Three of China’s taikonauts completed their journey to the Tiangong space station to begin the country’s eighth long-duration spaceflight.
Commander Cai Xuzhe led the roughly 6.5-hour Shenzhou-19 mission alongside Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze. They rode aboard a LongMarch 2F Y19 rocket, which docket with the TSS about 11 a.m. BJT on Oct. 29 (11 p.m. EDT on Oct. 29, 0300 UTC on Oct. 30).
https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/10/29/live-coverage-china-to-launch-3-taikonauts-to-the-tiangong-space-station/
Xinhua Headlines: Chinese astronauts return to Earth safely, experiencing busy, joyful space life
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-11-04 04:17:30
(https://english.news.cn/20241104/d06cc9d30b4343ba81758e8c2f6fe0c5/ce566f150c924d75b70abbb83b73f158.jpg)
In this combo photo, astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu (from L to R) are out of the return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Nov. 4, 2024. The three astronauts are all in good physical condition, and the mission is a complete success, according to the China Manned Space Agency. (Xinhua/Li Xin)
JIUQUAN, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-18 crew consisting of three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth safely in the early morning on Monday, after completing a six-month space station mission.
Shenzhou-18's return capsule, carrying astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 1:24 a.m. (Beijing Time). The crew had all left the return capsule by 2:15 a.m., according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The three astronauts, after staying in orbit for 192 days, were all in good health and the Shenzhou-18 manned mission was a success, the CMSA said.
Ye, the Shenzhou-18 mission commander, has become the first Chinese astronaut with an accumulative spaceflight time of more than a year, setting a new record for the longest duration of stay in orbit by a Chinese astronaut.
He served as a crew member in the Shenzhou-13 mission from October 2021 to April 2022.
"Chinese astronauts have flown to space in successive missions. I believe that the record of the duration in orbit will be broken in the near future," Ye said.
Li Cong, who has just completed his first-ever space adventure, said that the crew was united as one and worked closely with the ground team, which ensured the extravehicular activities implemented smoothly and the scientific research and experiments advanced successfully.
"We have all enjoyed the unique experience of weightlessness. It is exciting to return to Earth, but we are also unwilling to part the wonders of the space," said Li Guangsu, who has just returned from his first spaceflight.
At 12:34 a.m., the Beijing Aerospace Control Center issued a return command through the ground station, and the return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship separated from its orbiting capsule. The brake engine then ignited, and the return capsule separated from the propulsion capsule.
The ground search team arrived at the landing site soon after the return capsule landed.
INTENSIVE SCIENTIFIC TASKS
China launched the Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship on April 25, 2024. During the mission, the Shenzhou-18 crew utilized the scientific experiment cabinets and extravehicular payloads to carry out dozens of experiments in the fields of basic physics in microgravity, space material science, space life science, space medicine and space technology.
They replaced the burner for the gas experiment in the combustion experiment cabinet and test samples in the fluid physics experiment cabinet as planned. They also conducted in-orbit training on spacecraft rendezvous and docking.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts carried out extravehicular activities twice. Their first spacewalk in May set a new record for the longest single spacewalk by Chinese astronauts.
Assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth, they worked for about eight-and-a-half hours during their first extravehicular activities, and completed multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices.
The crew also carried out emergency decision-making research. By utilizing the computer and corresponding software, they completed a series of assessments, including tests on basic cognitive ability, risk perception, decision-making style, as well as comprehensive decision-making tasks.
The ground personnel then used the test results to thoroughly evaluate the astronauts' emergency decision-making ability in orbit and study the influence of the factors such as the duration of stay in orbit, emotional state and workload on their ability.
During the mission, the crew also conducted regular medical check-ups as required, including routine examinations and dynamic monitoring of the heart rate and blood pressure. These procedures helped comprehensively monitor the astronauts' physical state.
JOYFUL SPACE JOURNEY
During their space adventure, the Shenzhou-18 trio also experienced some special joy brought by the space "aquarium" and "garden" in the Tiangong space station.
The three astronauts created a space "aquarium" using zebrafish and algae to study how the space environment affects their growth and system balance. It was also a breakthrough in the field of raising vertebrates in space.
The astronauts discovered that zebrafish exhibited abnormal orientation behaviors in microgravity, such as upside-down swimming, spinning and circling.
Scientists will later utilize the returned water samples, fish eggs and other specimens, in conjunction with videos of the zebrafish's spatial movement behaviors, to conduct research on the impact of the space environment on the growth, development and behavior of vertebrates and to provide support for the study of material cycling in a closed space ecosystem.
The Shenzhou-18 astronauts were also busy cultivating plants in the "space garden" during their stay in orbit.
According to a video clip released by the CMSA, astronaut Li Guangsu said that they grew two types of plants -- cherry tomatoes and lettuce -- and they had harvested some lettuce leaves for food.
"Being able to eat fresh vegetables in space is truly a blessing. These green plants have also brought a touch of green and good cheer to our busy work," Li said.
Planting in space could also help analyze the changes in the function and gene expression of plant stem cells in the microgravity environment, and provide theoretical support for designing crops that can adapt to outer-space conditions.
Before their return to Earth, the Shenzhou-18 crew completed the removal of some module plants, replenishing water and other operations for the "space garden," in preparation for the new batch of plant seeds brought into space by the Shenzhou-19 astronauts.
They also planted a new batch of lettuce for the Shenzhou-19 crew, who were lifted off aboard the Shenzhou-19 spaceship and entered the Tiangong space station on Oct. 30.
In 2025, China's manned space program will launch the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed missions, and the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft for in-orbit supplies, the CMSA said. ■
https://english.news.cn/20241104/d06cc9d30b4343ba81758e8c2f6fe0c5/c.html
China Focus: Taikonauts to conduct in-orbit experiments on fruit flies
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-11-05 18:00:15
BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The newly launched Shenzhou-19 taikonauts have embarked on their six-month journey aboard China's space station. Their packed schedule includes 86 sci-tech experiments, with a particularly intriguing one - the fruit fly research, aimed at studying the growth and behaviors of these insects at a distance of 400 km above Earth.
The fruit fly is one of the model species frequently used in genetic experiments. It is small, measuring only 3 to 4 mm in length, and has a short life cycle with fast reproduction capabilities, enabling it to produce a large number of offspring within a short period, according to Zhang Wei, a researcher involved in the selection of in-orbit scientific experiments, at the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
"The genes of fruit flies share many similarities with those of humans, so the study can help with understanding human genetic diseases and provide insights into how humans adapt to space environments," Zhang said in a recent interview.
He also noted that future space research plans will involve conducting experiments on mice, which are more complex life forms compared to fruit flies.
"We have planned to send mice to space for breeding on an animal platform. And some lab mice in space may be brought back to Earth for further study, which will focus on their nerves, bones, muscles and immunity," the researcher added.
This is the first time that China has taken the small insects into space, and the aim of the study seems to be exploring the deeper universe.
According to scientists, Earth provides a magnetic field as a basic guarantee for our daily lives, but Mars does not possess similar strong magnetic protection and the moon has none at all. Understanding how the human body responds to such an environment remains a major challenge in space exploration.
"So we have to conduct relevant research in advance, creating a sub-magnetic environment and observing how the fruit flies develop, grow and behave," Zhang said.
China launched the Shenzhou-19 (Magical Ship) crewed spaceship on Oct. 30, sending three taikonauts, two male and one female, to its orbiting space station Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) for a half-year stay. The trio in mid-November will witness the arrival of Tianzhou-8 (Sky Ship) cargo craft, which will send up supplies and experiment payloads, including the sub-magnetic facility with fruit flies, according to the researcher.
The previous Shenzhou-18 crew during their six-month mission also performed numerous experiments inside the national space lab, and one task was creating an "aquarium" and raising four zebra fish and four grams of goldfish algae in zero gravity, a breakthrough in the field of raising vertebrates in space.
Not only the taikonauts found joy in the space "aquarium," but it also paved the way for their future counterparts to enjoy nutritious fish from their own in-orbit harvests.
According to scientists, the water, fish eggs and other experimental samples obtained through the space "aquarium" have been brought back to Earth with the crew on Monday. These samples will provide valuable data for scientists to study vertebrate lives.
Besides life science experiments, the orbiting taikonauts will carry out research on materials, including rare earth soft magnetic materials, blade materials for gas turbines and special functional crystals. These findings will provide insights for developing advanced instruments on Earth. ■
https://english.news.cn/20241105/12ed767820e741d886c128caaf84e56d/c.html
China's Tianzhou-7 cargo craft separates from space station combination
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-11-10 17:54:45
BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Tianzhou-7 cargo craft, tasked with carrying supplies for China's space station, separated from the station combination at 4:30 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) and switched to independent flight, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The cargo craft will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere in a controlled manner soon. Most of its components will burn up and be destroyed during the process, while a small amount of debris will fall into designated safe waters in the South Pacific, the CMSA said.
The CMSA has planned a total of two cargo supply missions in 2024, including Tianzhou-7 and Tianzhou-8.
Tianzhou-7 was launched on Jan. 17 from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan. Tianzhou-8 has been rescheduled for mid-November due to the impact of Super Typhoon Yagi on Wenchang. ■
https://english.news.cn/20241110/f4446d1758df499daf8b83f8c03e68d3/c.html
China prepares to launch Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-11-13 18:49:45
(https://english.news.cn/20241113/78c0edc26dc241f49759c6065bf52fc3/fIDWNzIwoUUndwDh.jpeg)
This photo taken on Nov. 13, 2024 shows the combination of the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and a Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket being vertically transferred to the launch area. The combination of the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and a Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket was vertically transferred to the launching area on Wednesday.(Photo by Huang Guochang/Xinhua)
WENCHANG, Hainan, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and Long March-7 Y9 carrier rocket combination was vertically transferred to the launch site on Wednesday.
The cargo spacecraft will be launched at an appropriate time in the near future, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The facilities and equipment at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in China's southern island province of Hainan are all in good condition, and various pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned, the agency said.
The supplies aboard the spacecraft are primarily intended to support the Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 crews, and include gift packages for major Chinese holidays such as Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. Personalized birthday packages have also been prepared for each astronaut who will celebrate a birthday in space.
The spacecraft will carry various equipment and materials to be used for space science experiments. For the first time, a brick made of synthetic lunar soil will be brought aboard the space station and subject to an exposure experiment to test whether it could be used to construct buildings on the moon. It is expected that the lunar soil brick will be returned to Earth by the end of next year, following the experiment. ■
https://english.news.cn/20241113/78c0edc26dc241f49759c6065bf52fc3/c.html
China's Tianzhou-8 cargo craft ready for launch
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-11-14 21:13:30
WENCHANG, Hainan, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Xichang Satellite Launch Center announced on Thursday that Tianzhou-8, China's newest cargo craft servicing its orbiting space station, is ready for launch.
https://english.news.cn/20241114/11cdbc1aa772489aa8863e1df6eb3220/c.html
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China Focus: Shenzhou-19 astronauts celebrate 25th anniversary of Shenzhou-1 launch with commemorative video
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2024-11-20 22:23:45
BEIJING, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship recorded a video on Wednesday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the successful launch of Shenzhou-1, the country's first experimental crewed spaceship launched on Nov. 20, 1999.
https://english.news.cn/20241120/7e3b9351db964279a935f276a76ad425/c.html
https://x.com/wulei2020/status/1859245122149662776
Shenzhou-19 astronauts complete record-breaking 9-hour spacewalk
Andrew Jones December 17, 2024
(https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/shenzhou19-EVA1-wentian-panoramic-cam-b-17dec2024-CMSEO.jpg?resize=1200%2C592&quality=89&ssl=1)
Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, attached to a robotic arm, and Song Lingdong, exiting the Wentian hatch, during the first Shenzhou-19 extravehicular activity, Dec. 17, 2024. Credit: CMSEO
HELSINKI — Two Chinese astronauts completed a record-setting extravehicular activity outside Tiangong space station Tuesday.
Shenzhou-19 commander Cai Xuzhe, wearing a Feitian extravehicular activity suit marked with red, exited the Wentian experiment module hatch of the Tiangong space station at 11:51 p.m. Eastern, Dec. 16 (0451 UTC, Dec. 17).
Cai attached himself to Tiangong’s robotic arm and retrieved equipment needed for the EVA from the airlock, assisted by crewmate Song Lingdong. Song, in a suit with blue markings, exited Wentian at 1:32 a.m. Dec. 17 (0632 UTC) to perform his tasks, according to China Central Television (CCTV). Signatures from previous users of the spacesuits are visible on the Fetian primary life support systems in video of the spacewalk. (...)
https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-19-astronauts-complete-record-breaking-9-hour-spacewalk/
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China to train Pakistani astronaut for Tiangong space station mission (https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=140.msg197384#msg197384)
by Andrew Jones February 28, 2025 [SN]
(https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tiangong-shenzhou16-depart-photo-CMSA-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C673&quality=89&ssl=1)
A view of Tiangong space station taken by the departed Shenzhou-16 spacecraft crew in late October 2023. Credit: Credit: CMSEO
(...) “Pakistani astronauts will be arranged to enter the Chinese space station with Chinese astronauts to perform short-term flight missions in the next few years,” the CMSEO statement read. (...)
It is unclear how the astronaut will take part in a short-term mission. Shenzhou missions to Tiangong are typically six months long, with three crew members required to operate the station. China has stated plans exist to expand Tiangong to six modules, and send a larger new-generation crew spacecraft to Tiangong on the new Long March 10 launcher. (...)
https://spacenews.com/china-to-train-pakistani-astronaut-for-tiangong-space-station-mission/
Tiangong to welcome Pakistani astronaut
By Zhao Lei | China Daily | Updated: 2025-03-01 07:35
First foreign visitor expected to enter China's space station under agreement
(...) The agreement, signed by the China Manned Space Agency and Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission at a ceremony in Islamabad on Friday, covers the bilateral efforts to select and train Pakistani astronauts and then send some of them to China's Tiangong space station, which has been in orbit for nearly four years. (...)
After the Pakistani trainees are ready, one of them will be chosen as the first foreign crew member to fly with Chinese astronauts toward Tiangong space station and spend a short-term stay inside the colossal spacecraft, currently orbiting Earth at about 400 kilometers above the ground, the agency noted.
Until now, the highest altitude any Pakistani citizen has ever achieved is about 87.4 km, which was reached by female polar adventurer and artist Namira Salim during a 55-minute suborbital journey arranged by British-American aerospace company Virgin Galactic on Oct 6, 2023. (...)
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202503/01/WS67c24853a310c240449d7f02.html
https://www.voanews.com/a/growing-space-cooperation-between-pakistan-china-presents-risks-and-opportunities-experts-say-/7995718.html
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Dwóch taikonautów z 4. naboru poleci w 2026 na CSS jako PS
Hong Kong, Macao astronauts set for their first spaceflight in 2026
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-04-23 11:52:30
JIUQUAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China has announced that its first astronauts from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, selected as payload specialists, are on track to make their inaugural spaceflight as early as 2026, a spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency said Wednesday.
The two candidates, part of China's fourth batch of astronauts, have quickly adapted to their new working and living environments and trained tirelessly, spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told a press conference in Jiuquan in northwest China.
They are now engaged in studies and training in professional space technology, said Lin.
The training for the fourth batch covers fundamental spaceflight theory as well as a range of exercises, including psychological training and adaptation to the space environment, along with specialized training sessions, said Lin.
"Upon obtaining spaceflight qualifications, they will be included in the pool for spaceflight missions," said Lin.
The fourth batch, joining the astronaut team last August, includes 10 new members, comprising eight space pilots and two payload specialists. ■
https://english.news.cn/20250423/f7f7b4ed54b842aebb9a57a0634b0953/c.html
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China’s Shenzhou-19 astronauts return to Earth after six-month mission
by Andrew Jones April 30, 2025 [SN]
(https://i0.wp.com/spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/shenzhou19-wang-haoze-post-landing-30april2025-CMSEO.jpg?resize=1200%2C751&quality=89&ssl=1)
Astronaut Wang Haoze waves after exiting the Shenzhou-19 capsule after landing, April 30, 2025. Credit: CMSEO
HELSINKI — China’s three Shenzhou-19 mission astronauts are safely back on the ground following a six-month-mission aboard the Tiangong space station.
Astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze touched down in their Shenzhou reentry capsule at 1:08 a.m. Eastern (0508 UTC), April 30, within the Dongfeng landing area in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
https://spacenews.com/chinas-shenzhou-19-astronauts-return-to-earth-after-six-month-mission/
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Space seeds take root in Inner Mongolia
By YUAN HUI | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2023-04-14 19:50
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202304/14/64393deca310b60580cb2ce2.jpeg)
Breeding experiments are carried out on mutant seeds from space. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Eighteen kinds of plants bred in space have entered the ground stage in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.
All the experimental plants were sent to Earth by the Chang'e-5, Shenzhou-13 and Shenzhou-14 spacecraft.
Mutation breeding in space is a new technology trend. It refers to sending crop seeds or test tube seedlings into space, using the mutagenic effect of the space environment (high vacuum, and cosmic magnetic fields) to mutate the seeds, which are then returned to the ground to cultivate new varieties.
Liu Yaling, director of the Innovation and Breeding Research Institute of Mengcao Group and deputy secretary-general of the Grass Seed Technology Innovation Center in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, said, "We have carried out space breeding experiments on 18 breeding materials including wild barley, couchgrass, red fescue and yellow flower alfalfa on space missions.
Through the experiment of sowing the mutated varieties and control varieties at the same time, plants with excellent characteristics were selected for the cultivation of new varieties.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202304/14/WS64393deca310b6054facdbbe.html
China's space station achieves 100% regeneration of oxygen resources
Xinhua | Updated: 2023-04-14 09:56
(http://img2.chinadaily.com.cn/images/202304/14/6438b2e2a31057c4b4b91f68.jpeg)
This simulated image captured at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Nov 30, 2022 shows China's Shenzhou XV manned spaceship having conducted a fast automated rendezvous and docking with the combination of the space station Tiangong. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING -- China's space station, with the Shenzhou XV crew now in orbit, can produce 100 percent of its oxygen supply through its onboard regeneration system, according to a space technology conference in Harbin, capital of China's northernmost Heilongjiang province.
The development reflects that fundamental transformation of the environmental control and life-support system for China's manned spacecraft from "replenishment" to "regeneration," said Bian Qiang, director of the environmental control and life-support engineering office under the Astronaut Center of China.
As a key technology for China's manned space missions, the environmental control and life-support system creates basic living conditions and builds a liveable working environment for the astronauts, thus ensuring their health and safety.
The system comprises six regeneration subsystems for the following processes: oxygen production by water electrolysis; carbon dioxide removal; harmful gas removal; urine treatment; water treatment; and water production with carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
"At present, the six systems are in stable operation, with 100 percent of the oxygen resources regenerated and 95 percent of the water resources recycled. This reduces the amount of supplies from the ground by six tonnes every year," said Bian, addressing the third national manned spaceflight environmental control and life-support technology conference on Thursday.
He noted that the technology applied in the environmental control and life-support system ranks among the best in the world.
Over the past 55 years, experts have successfully developed three generations of environmental control and life-support system for China's manned spacecraft, as well as relevant products for Shenzhou spacecraft, extra-vehicular spacesuits and the three-module space station complex, according to Bian.
He added that, since the launch of China's space station mission, experts have successively tackled many technical difficulties faced by the world, and have realized the fundamental transformation of the system from "replenishment" to "regeneration," making outstanding contributions to the construction of China's space station.
The Shenzhou XV crew sent a video specially for the conference. Commander Fei Junlong said that he felt honored to witness the transformation of the environmental control and life-support technology on the space station, compared with the Shenzhou VI mission 17 years ago. He felt good about working and living in space for more than 100 days.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202304/14/WS6438b2e2a31057c47ebba160.html
Shenzhou-20 astronauts complete first spacewalk
Xinhua | Updated: 2025-05-22 16:54
BEIJING -- The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station completed their mission's first series of extravehicular activities on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The astronaut trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie -- worked for about eight hours and completed the task at 4:49 pm (Beijing Time), assisted by a team on Earth.
Chen Dong and Chen Zhongrui, tasked with conducting spacewalk operations, exited through the node cabin of the Tianhe core module. This marked the first time that astronauts had exited via the node cabin since the space station transitioned into its application and development phase.
The astronauts installed a debris protection device at its designated location. The device had been previously deployed outside through the cargo airlock and temporarily positioned by the robotic arm.
Also, external equipment was inspected and maintained. They have since returned to the core module safely, according to the CMSA.
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202505/22/WS682ee65ca310a04af22c0fc3.html
China Focus: China launches Tianzhou-9 cargo craft to send space station supplies
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-07-15 15:04:30
WENCHANG, Hainan, July 15 (Xinhua) -- China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-9 in the early morning of Tuesday to deliver supplies for its orbiting Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The Long March-7 Y10 rocket, carrying Tianzhou-9, blasted off at 5:34 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern island province of Hainan, the agency said.
After about 10 minutes, Tianzhou-9 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. Its solar panels soon unfolded. The agency declared the launch a complete success.
At 8:52 a.m. (Beijing Time), Tianzhou-9 successfully docked at the rear docking port of Tianhe, the core module of China's space station Tiangong. The Shenzhou-20 crew members onboard the space station will enter the cargo craft and transfer the payloads as scheduled.
Tianzhou-9, measuring 10.6 meters in length and 3.35 meters at its maximum diameter, is tasked with delivering supplies to the crews of the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions.
It is loaded with essential supplies, totaling approximately 6.5 tonnes, including consumables for the orbiting crew, propellant, and equipment for application experiments and tests. This is the largest amount of cargo since Tianzhou-6.
Notably, two new sets of independently developed extravehicular spacesuits are onboard the craft. Their design lifespan has been significantly increased from 15 extravehicular activities (EVAs) within three years to 20 EVAs within four years, according to the reports from the state broadcaster CCTV.
Among the supplies carried by the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft is a new core muscle exercise device, helping astronauts avoid muscle atrophy in the microgravity environment of space.
Long-term spaceflight has specific impacts on astronauts' bodies, including muscle atrophy and decreased cardiovascular function. China has already equipped its space station with devices for running, cycling, and microgravity resistance exercise.
On this basis, to meet the needs of future long-term missions, the core muscle exercise device was developed. It can enhance the core muscle function of astronauts, prevent atrophy of the paraspinal muscles, and alleviate muscle pain after returning to Earth.
A brain organoid chip is also onboard the Tianzhou-9 cargo craft. It is capable of simulating the complex microenvironment and functions of the human brain.
Studies have shown that astronauts who stay in space stations for extended periods often experience issues such as dizziness, sleep disorders, and changes in cognitive function, according to CCTV.
Sending these brain-simulating organ chips to the space station can help scientists study the mechanisms through which the space environment impacts the human brain. This will provide new strategies and interventions for long-term survival and health maintenance in space.
Furthermore, brain organoid chips can also provide important support for the research of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
The relay terminal onboard Tianzhou-9 can autonomously acquire and track the Tianlian relay satellites, establishing a communication link from the cargo craft to the relay satellites and then to the ground, ensuring real-time bidirectional information transmission.
Tuesday's mission is the fourth cargo resupply flight of China's manned space program since the space station entered the application and development phase. It is also the 584th mission of the Long March rocket series.
The Long March-7 rocket, with a total length of 53.1 meters and a diameter of 3.35 meters, is a new-generation medium-lift launch vehicle in China, characterized by its high reliability, high safety, and environmentally friendly design. The rocket has a low-Earth orbit payload capacity of up to 14 tonnes. ■
https://english.news.cn/20250715/647e2631a3e0435e91ba46a1c9a21826/c.html
Shenzhou-20 taikonauts complete fourth series of extravehicular activities
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-09-26 10:39:45
(https://english.news.cn/20250926/b0fae042f8d54913a4d84180375f4edb/S4Xi5nXxDkWMmKTa.jpg)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on Sept. 25, 2025 shows Shenzhou-20 astronaut Wang Jie performing extravehicular activities outside China's orbiting space station. The Shenzhou-20 crew aboard China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). (Xinhua/Li Minggang)
BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-20 taikonaut crew on China's orbiting space station completed their mission's fourth round of extravehicular activities on Friday morning, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie -- worked for approximately six hours and had completed all tasks by 1:35 a.m. (Beijing Time), assisted by the space station's robotic arm and ground-based researchers.
Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, tasked with conducting spacewalk operations, completed the installation of space debris protection devices and the inspection of external equipment, the CMSA said.
The agency noted that this marked the first time that two members of China's third batch of taikonauts had jointly carried out a spacewalk.
To date, the orbiting Shenzhou-20 crew has completed four rounds of extravehicular activities -- making it one of the two Chinese crews to have conducted the most extravehicular missions.
The Shenzhou-20 crew has been in orbit for more than 150 days. As planned, they will also carry out a large number of scientific experiments and technological tests.
The three taikonauts will celebrate the upcoming National Day (Oct. 1) and Mid-Autumn Festival (Oct. 6) on the Chinese space station Tiangong, the agency said. ■ (...)
https://english.news.cn/20250926/b0fae042f8d54913a4d84180375f4edb/c.html
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Osiągnięto nowy rekord temperatury podczas podgrzewania stopu wolframu.
China’s space station heats tungsten alloy to over 3100 C, setting a world record
By Global Times Published: Aug 24, 2025 03:10 PM
(https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2025/2025-08-21/27ec1190-4173-4623-ba81-092f73ee8932.jpeg)
Photo: Screenshot from CCTV News
Chinese space scientists and taikonauts have achieved breakthrough in China's space station Tiangong by successfully heating tungsten alloy to over 3100 C in the container-free material science laboratory cabinet, setting a world record, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Sunday. (...)
Now, this laboratory has heated tungsten alloy to over 3,000 C - nearly half the temperature of the sun's surface. This extraordinary achievement reflects breakthroughs in two key technologies.
On Earth, molten metal under gravity either sticks to containers like syrup or separates into layers of different densities separating into layers like oil and water - making it impossible to form a uniform alloy. (...)
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1341600.shtml
China prepares to launch Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship (https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=6716.msg202287#msg202287)
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-10-24 19:15:45
(https://english.news.cn/20251024/686c0b7002db423596651ee9bfdbedab/Kg8bPUxMDB2dlI9C.jpeg)(https://english.news.cn/20251024/686c0b7002db423596651ee9bfdbedab/R9ZXhlOjeP65Gd3L.jpeg)
This photo taken on Oct. 24, 2025 shows the combination of the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket to be transferred to the launching area. The Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship will be launched at an appropriate time in the near future, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Friday. The combination of the spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket has been transferred to the launching area, according to the CMSA. All facilities and equipment at the launch site are in good condition, while various pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)
https://english.news.cn/20251024/686c0b7002db423596651ee9bfdbedab/c.html
Pakistani astronaut to enter Chinese space station as payload specialist
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-10-30 14:58:00
JIUQUAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training alongside Chinese astronauts, and one of them will be selected to participate in a short-duration spaceflight mission as a payload specialist, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Thursday.
The selection process for Pakistani astronauts has officially commenced following a cooperation agreement between China and Pakistan signed in February this year, said Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the agency.
Similar to the selection process for Chinese astronauts, this process is divided into three stages: preliminary selection, second round of selection and final selection. The preliminary selection is currently being conducted in Pakistan, while the second round and final selections will take place in China.
Preparations for the second round of selection are already underway, including developing training programs, preparing teaching materials and equipment, and ensuring logistical support during the training period, Zhang said.
Following the final selection, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training alongside Chinese astronauts as planned. One Pakistani astronaut will be chosen to join a short-duration space mission as a payload specialist and conduct scientific experiments for Pakistan, as well as perform routine crew duties during the flight.
Since its inception, China's manned space program has consistently adhered to the principles of peaceful utilization, equality, mutual benefit and shared development, Zhang noted.
China actively recruits foreign astronauts to participate in its space station missions, promotes international cooperation and exchange in its manned space program, advances space technology development, and works to benefit all humankind, he said.
"We welcome our global counterparts to join the flight missions of the Chinese space station," Zhang added. ■
https://english.news.cn/20251030/fb0f8d9aa21a46a1909793d42a98f377/c.html
Hong Kong, Macao astronauts in good health after completing rigorous training
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-10-30 14:57:00
JIUQUAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The two astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao are in good health and have successfully completed a series of rigorous training sessions, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Thursday.
They have quickly integrated into the astronaut team, and all aspects of their work are progressing smoothly, said Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the agency, at a press conference.
They have completed their studies in space-related theory and foundational training in physical fitness, psychology and adaptation to the space environment as scheduled, Zhang said, adding that they are now undertaking specialized spaceflight training.
The two astronauts have completed challenging training items such as desert survival and launch site emergency evacuation. Their mission skills have steadily improved, and their overall mental and physical capabilities have been significantly strengthened, Zhang said.
Subsequent training will focus on mission-specific tasks to ensure they meet all spaceflight requirements. "We look forward to their remarkable debut," Zhang said. ■
https://english.news.cn/20251030/01ca3f0472ab41ae9ab72628604bc979/c.html
New extravehicular spacesuits offer astronauts greater comfort, convenience: official
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-10-30 15:58:30
JIUQUAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Two new extravehicular spacesuits are able to provide astronauts with greater comfort and convenience during spacewalk activities, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Thursday.
These two new suits, delivered to orbit in July 2025 by the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft, feature improvements in thermal comfort, human-machine interface capability and operational safety, while maintaining high standards of reliability, Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the CMSA, said on Thursday at a press conference focused on the upcoming Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceflight mission.
Notably, one in-orbit spacesuit, which was used more than 20 times, exceeding its original design of 15 uses within three years, will retire from future extravehicular missions.
Zhang said it is the first Chinese spacesuit to undergo in-orbit lifespan assessment and extended use -- validating the accuracy of health monitoring and evaluation models and methods for extravehicular spacesuits.
He added that further tests will be carried out on the suit's key materials and characteristic parameters. It is scheduled to be returned to Earth via a new-generation spacecraft at a later stage. ■
https://english.news.cn/20251030/d598694d3cb04fa29564e7b2b54ce4b9/c.html
China discloses new space mission tasks, highlighting mice experiment
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-10-30 15:19:15
JIUQUAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-21 crew will bring 4 mice to the country's space station for scientific study, a highlight among a variety of new science and application projects to be carried out during their six-month stay in orbit, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Thursday.
This will be the first time China conducts a scientific experiment involving rodent mammals in space, CMSA spokesperson Zhang Jingbo said at a press conference held one day prior to the launch of the Shenzhou-21 mission.
The mice, two males and two females, will be raised in orbit, and the study will focus on examining the effects of space conditions, such as microgravity and enclosed space, on the behavior of these animals, Zhang said.
Subsequently, the mice will return to Earth via a spaceship, and further scientific research will be carried out to explore the stress response and adaptive changes of multiple tissues and organs of mice in the space environment, Zhang added.
The four mice were chosen after more than 60 days of rigorous training in physical fitness and cognitive ability. They will be part of scientific experiments in space for five to seven days, helping to close a gap in small mammal research aboard China's Tiangong space station.
Previous animal experiments conducted on the Chinese space lab involved zebra fish and fruit flies.
The Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:44 p.m. Friday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Taikonauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang will carry out the Shenzhou-21 mission.
The 27 new in-orbit experiments awaiting the trio cover areas including space life sciences and biotechnology, space medicine, space materials science, microgravity fluid physics and combustion, and new space technologies.
The CMSA also outlined planned in-orbit studies on the relationship between the origin of genetic codes and chirality, lithium-ion batteries for space applications, and intelligent computing platforms.
Notably, crew member Zhang Hongzhang, a payload specialist, is a researcher in the field of new energy and new materials at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
During the Shenzhou-21 mission, his ideas from the ground are expected to bear fruit in the orbital lab, as the experiments he designed will be conducted on the space station.
He will be responsible for conducting experimental procedures, performing observations, acquiring data, and carrying out data processing and analysis.
"I feel truly honored that the experiment project I have contributed to will be conducted in space," the scientist-turned-taikonaut told media. ■
https://english.news.cn/20251030/fbad831fe37046d184dd7e82e4a35fd0/c.html
China Focus: China unveils Shenzhou-21 crew for more diversified space sci-tech experiments
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-10-30 18:14:30
JIUQUAN, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang will carry out the Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceflight mission, and Zhang Lu will be the commander, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Thursday.
The Shenzhou-21 crewed spaceship is scheduled for launch at 11:44 p.m. Friday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson of the agency.
The three astronauts are a space pilot, a flight engineer, and a payload specialist, respectively, representing the three types of Chinese astronauts in service, he added.
Zhang Lu was a crew member of the Shenzhou-15 mission. Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, both from the third batch of Chinese astronauts, will carry out the spaceflight mission for the first time.
Before being selected as an astronaut, Wu Fei was an engineer at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and Zhang Hongzhang was a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
It has been two years since Zhang Lu last went into space. He told the press on Thursday that his heart is now "filled with excitement and anticipation." He has readjusted to the high-intensity training since the end of the Shenzhou-15 mission, engaging in extensive learning and research focused on the new characteristics of the space station mission.
Zhang Lu revealed that during their six-month stay in orbit, the crew is going to celebrate the Spring Festival in a more surprising and interactive way.
"I hope to use a brand-new method to integrate traditional Chinese culture with aerospace technology," he said, hoping their festival greetings will display the romantic side of Chinese astronauts, aside from their meticulousness.
Wu Fei is the youngest among the Shenzhou-21 crew. As a spaceflight engineer, his responsibilities include looking after the space station, managing its daily affairs, and handling equipment maintenance, repair and upgrades.
"I believe in the saying 'the harder you work, the luckier you get.' Integrating my dream into the country's great space endeavor is the best luck bestowed upon me by the times," he said.
Zhang Hongzhang, a payload specialist, will be in charge of sci-tech application research tasks, involving aerospace medicine, space life science, space material science, space microgravity physics, space new technology and application, and other fields.
He will conduct experimental procedures, perform observations, acquire data, and carry out data processing and analysis.
He has long been engaged in the research on new energy and new materials. Additionally, he will be able to work on his own research project during the mission. "It is a long-cherished dream of every payload specialist to bring self-designed experiments to the space station," he said.
There will be 27 new science and application projects for the new crew to do in the space station, covering space life sciences and biotechnology, space medicine, space material science, microgravity fluid physics and combustion, and new space technologies.
The mission also planned in-orbit studies on lithium-ion batteries for space applications, and intelligent computing platforms.
The mission is the sixth manned flight mission since the space station entered the application and development phase, and the 37th flight of China's manned spaceflight program.
The Shenzhou-21 astronauts will complete in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-20 crew. They will also perform extravehicular activities (EVAs) and cargo handling, install space debris protection devices, deploy and recover extravehicular payloads and equipment.
They will participate in science education and public welfare activities as well.
During their stay in orbit, the Shenzhou-21 crew will welcome the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-22 crewed spaceship.
The Shenzhou-20 crew has been in orbit for 188 days and is expected to set a new record for the longest stay in orbit by a Chinese astronaut crew. During the period, the crew fulfilled a total of four EVAs and seven payload entry and exit tasks.
The Shenzhou-20 crew will return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after completing the in-orbit handover with the Shenzhou-21 crew, the spokesperson added. ■
https://english.news.cn/20251030/f2582379b9a14955a69eb4e32ba6696b/c.html
China to launch new-generation crewed spaceship in 2026
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2025-11-01 22:11:15
(https://english.news.cn/20251101/6750d59982b8496e98d4d444be35db77/202511016750d59982b8496e98d4d444be35db77_XxjwshE000053_20251101_CBMFN0A001.JPG)
This photo taken on June 17, 2025 shows a scene during an escape flight test on China's new-generation manned spacecraft Mengzhou at zero altitude in northwest China. (Photo by Wang Heng/Xinhua)
JIUQUAN, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- China will launch the new generation of crewed spaceship Mengzhou-1 in 2026, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Mengzhou is developed through a comprehensive upgrade from the Shenzhou crewed spaceship. It adopts a modular design, comprising a return capsule and a service capsule, and it will provide transport between Earth and the space station.
The Mengzhou-1 crewed spaceship will make its maiden flight atop the Long March-10A carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in southern Hainan Province, and dock with the radial port of the space station's core module.
It will verify the performance of the spaceship's overall systems, while delivering environmental assessment instruments and supplies, technology demonstration payloads, crew necessities, and experiment devices for applied-science tests.
China will also launch the Shenzhou-22 and Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China next year. Each mission will carry a crew of three astronauts.
The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will dock with the radial port of the space station's core module, while Shenzhou-23 will dock with the front port.
One astronaut of the Shenzhou-22 crew will stay in orbit for a long-duration residency experiment lasting more than one year.
The tasks of the two crewed spaceflight missions will also include conducting extravehicular activities (EVAs), delivering and retrieving payloads through the cargo airlock, continuing space science experiments and technology tests, managing space station systems, carrying out crew-support tasks, and performing education-outreach activities.
Moreover, China plans to launch the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in 2026. It will dock with the backward port of the space station's core module.
The main tasks of the cargo spacecraft include delivering crew supplies and EVAs suits, maintenance spares and propellant to keep the station safe and operational, as well as payloads and experiment samples for applied-science projects. When it deorbits, the cargo spacecraft will dispose of the waste from the space station. ■
https://english.news.cn/20251101/6750d59982b8496e98d4d444be35db77/c.html