Current location:style >>
Two crews set for Tiangong station in '23
style76People have gathered around
IntroductionThis simulated image captured at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Nov 30, 2022 shows China's S ...
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]
China will launch two crews to work on its Tiangong space station this year, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The agency published schedules for the Shenzhou XVI and XVII mission crews on Wednesday, saying that the Shenzhou XVI team will leave for the Tiangong station in May while their counterparts in the Shenzhou XVII mission will fly to the massive orbiting outpost in October.
Both crews will consist of three astronauts and will be launched into space by Long March 2F carrier rockets from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. They are scheduled to work at the Tiangong station for six months, where they will conduct spacewalks, scientific and technological tasks, and educational lectures, according to the agency.
In addition, the Tianzhou 6 robotic cargo spaceship will dock with Tiangong in May to transport necessities for the crew, as well as space suits, experimental payloads, spare parts and fuel.
Pang Zhihao, an expert on space exploration technology and a renowned writer on human spaceflight, said that starting from the Shenzhou XV mission, Chinese astronauts will spend more time on scientific experiments and technological tests, which are the main tasks for Tiangong.
"The government has made it clear that the space station is a 'national space-based laboratory' dedicated to science and technology. Compared with their predecessors who were mainly tasked with building and testing the station, astronauts in the coming flights will focus on science and technology work," said Pang, who was a researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology.
Nine joint science projects from 17 other nations have been selected to be carried out aboard Tiangong, and the first ones are expected to be conducted by the crew of the Shen-zhou XV or XVI missions.
"The composition of future flight crews will also be different from the current all-military pilot teams. There will be scientists who have been selected as members of China's third generation of astronauts, and they are undergoing extensive training," Pang said.
According to the manned space agency, the 18 new astronauts — 17 men and one woman — are in three groups: seven spacecraft pilots, seven spaceflight engineers and four payload specialists. They are training at the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing, and program officials said that some of them will make their debut flight this year.
In another development, the agency on Wednesday invited the public to submit logos for the Shen-zhou XVI, Shenzhou XVII and Tianzhou 6 missions.
The Tiangong station now consists of the Tianhe core module, the Wentian and Mengtian science labs, the Shenzhou XV crew spacecraft and the Tianzhou 5 cargo ship.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“Universal Unfoldings news portal”。http://malta.downmusic.org/news-77c599909.html
Related articles
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
styleCHICAGO (AP) — The road for Shota Imanaga from Japan to the major leagues included at least one shar ...
【style】
Read moreWater festival brings fun and tourists to Yunnan
styleThe more water people splash on you, the luckier and happier your life will be. That's the posit ...
【style】
Read moreAmerica's fastest growing city is tiny 43,000
styleNewly released Census data shows huge numbers of Americans are flocking to small towns in Texas to g ...
【style】
Read more
Popular articles
- OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson comparisons
- Barcelona beat Real Sociedad to move second
- Maradona's 1986 Golden Ball trophy goes to auction
- SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft departs ISS for Earth
- Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang
- Cavani on target but Boca held by Fortaleza in Copa Sudamericana
Latest articles
LINKS
- TOWIE's Ella Rae Wise puts on a leggy display in tiny black hotpants with an ab
- Reggie Yates' fans send heartfelt congratulations after he delightedly shares baby news
- Report reveals trends in world tourism
- Scotland's Lewis Ferguson out of Euro 2024 after injuring knee while playing for Bologna
- Union settles extended strike with Pittsburgh newspaper, while journalists, other unions remain out
- Upcoming Met Gala exhibit aims to be a multi
- Key moments of the NBA season, from the championship rings to the postseason field being set
- Did Dwayne Johnson say he regretted supporting Biden in 2020? — Radio Free Asia
- Hellen Obiri claims back
- Hangzhou Asiad legacy integrates into local people's daily lives