China Launches Astronauts to New Space Station

China Welcomes First Crew to New Space Station

For the first time, three Chinese astronauts have successfully docked with China’s space station core module, Tianhe.

This arrival represents the culmination of the Shenzhou 12 mission, marking China’s initial crewed spaceflight in a decade, since 2012.

Long Duration Mission

The crew will inhabit the core module of the Tiangong space station for a period extending to September. This will establish a new record for the longest crewed space mission undertaken by China.

The astronauts – Commander Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo – reached their destination a little over seven hours after liftoff from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in northwestern China.

Nie Haisheng is a veteran of space travel, having previously orbited Earth during the Shenzhou 6 mission in 2005 and again on Shenzhou 10 in 2013. Liu Boming also possesses prior spaceflight experience, having flown in 2008.

Station Assembly and Testing

The crew’s time in orbit will be dedicated to critical tasks. This mission is the third in a planned sequence of eleven launches scheduled through 2022.

These launches are all geared towards the completion and operationalization of China’s inaugural space station. The primary objective of Shenzhou 12 is to activate the core module, thoroughly test its systems, and confirm its readiness for subsequent assembly phases.

Of the remaining eight launches, three are anticipated to be crewed missions.

A Step Forward for China’s Space Program

The construction of an independent space station is a natural progression for China, a nation that has demonstrably pursued ambitious space goals in recent years.

This endeavor is particularly significant given China’s exclusion from participation in the International Space Station, a result of legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 2011.

International Collaboration

However, Chinese officials have indicated that the nation’s space station will not be solely for domestic use.

Ji Qiming, an assistant director of the Shenzhou program, stated that China “welcome[s] co-operation in this regard in general,” as reported by the BBC.

He further suggested that collaborative missions involving both Chinese and international astronauts are expected in the near future, following the station’s completion.

Recent Achievements

China’s expanding space program recently achieved another milestone with the successful landing of the Zhurong rover on Mars last month.

This accomplishment positions China as only the second country, alongside the United States, to successfully land a robotic explorer on the red planet.