The process lasted about six and a half hours, and presented no problems, according to the Chinese authorities in charge of the mission to outer space.
The Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft, launched on Thursday from China, has already placed its three astronauts on the Tiangong space station in orbit for a mission that will last six months. As announced by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA)the launch was a complete success.
The ship that took off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centerin northwest China, separated from the Long March-2F carrier rocket approximately ten minutes after launch and entered its planned orbit without incident.
The crew, led by Ye Guangfu, mission commanderincludes Li Cong and Li Guangsuwho are part of the third generation of “taikonauts” , as Chinese astronauts are known, this being their first trip to space. For his part, Ye, a veteran astronaut, previously participated in the Shenzhou-13 mission from October 2021 to April 2022.
Chinese spaceship crew
(Xinhua/Wang Jiangbo)
This trio of astronauts is in “good physical condition,” according to the Chinese Space Flight Agency (CMSA), and replaced the Shenzhou-17 mission teamwhich blasted off into space in October.
New Chinese space mission: what is the objective
In addition to conventional tasks, astronauts will carry out more than 90 scientific experiments, covering fields such as microgravity physics, materials science, space medicine and space technology. Also, the creation of a space “aquarium” to study the growth of fish in zero gravity is highlighted, which could have important implications for future missions and the self-sufficiency in outer space.
chinese spaceship.png
(Xinhua/Wang Jiangbo)
Shenzhou-18 It will also carry out research on plant breeding and molecular biology, as well as testing of new materials and maintenance tasks on the space station. With a focus on public outreach, the mission attracted the attention of a diverse audience, including students and communities affected by natural events such as earthquakes.
He successful ship docking with the space station represents a crucial milestone in the development of the chinese space programby bringing space exploration closer to everyday life and promoting public participation in science and technology.
Tiangong is the flagship project of Beijing’s space programWhat did land robotic rovers on Mars and the Moonand also made China the third country to launch humans into Earth’s orbit.
Source: Ambito
