China’s spacecraft Shenzhou-15, carrying three astronauts, has been launched from the Gobi Desert in northwest China on Tuesday, state media announced, citing the China Manned Space Administration (CMSA).
A Long March-2F carrier rocket, which was carrying the spacecraft, was lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gansu Province at 11:08pm (local time).
Destined to the newly-built Tiangong space station, the mission is China’s first-ever crew handover in orbit.
Ahead of the launch, the Chinese space agency said at a news conference that the team is led by veteran Fei Junlong and two first-time astronauts Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu.
Previously, commanded the Shenzhou-6 mission in 2005. The 57-year-old is returning to space after 17 years. His team will join three other astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station, who arrived in early June.
China launches the Shenzhou-15 spacecraft carrying three astronauts to its newly completed Tiangong space station for a six month-long stay, formally kicking off operation of the second permanently inhabited outpost in low-earth orbit. https://t.co/A9qW9FAUZ0
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 29, 2022
Ji Qiming, a spokesman for CMSA said: “The… main responsibilities for the mission are.. achieving the first crew-handover in orbit, installing… equipment and facilities inside and outside the space station and carrying out scientific experiments.”
“During the stay, the Shenzhou-15 crew will welcome the visiting Tianzhou-6 cargo ship and hand over (operations to) the Shenzhou-16 manned spaceship, and are planning to return to China’s Dongfeng landing site in May next year.”
What do we know about the Tiangong space station?
Tiangong space station is constructed by China and operated by CMSA in low Earth orbit between 340 and 450 km above the surface. It is one of the most important parts of Beijing’s ambitious space programme.
China aimed to land robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. With the launch of three people into the pace, China became the country third to put humans in orbit.
Bejing is also looking forward to catching up with major spacefaring powers the United States and Russia. The Chinese state media said that Tiangong’s final module successfully docked with the core structure earlier this month, as the nation expects the completion by year’s end.
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