[Commentary] At 18:00 on May 5, the Long March 5B carrier rocket developed for the Chinese manned space station project, carrying a new-generation manned spaceship test ship and a flexible inflatable cargo return module test module, was ignited at the Wenchang space launch site in China Lift off. After about 488 seconds, the load combination and the rocket successfully separated and entered the predetermined orbit, the first flight mission was a complete success.
[Commentary] The successful first flight of the Long March V-5 B carrier rocket marked the beginning of the implementation of the "third step" development strategic mission of China's manned spaceflight project, which opened the prelude to the Chinese space station's orbital construction mission. It has laid a solid foundation for the subsequent launch of the core module and experimental module of the space station.
[Explanation] According to reports, the rocket was established in November 2011, and the sample development was completed in November 2018. At the beginning of 2020, the Long March 5B Yaoyi rocket, which carried out its first flight mission, completed various development work before leaving the factory, and arrived at the Wenchang space launch site on February 5. Since the launch of the Long March 5B carrier rocket, it has participated in the launch occasion training together with the first samples of the core capsule of the space station that arrived earlier. After the end of the joint training in late March, the Long March 5B carrier rocket was fully turned into the first flight preparation.
[Commentary] On the day of launch, many citizens and tourists came to various rocket launch observation points in Wenchang, Hainan, to witness this historic moment together.
[Same period] (Mr. Fu, tourist) I was very happy and very excited to see the launch today. I hope that our country's space industry will flourish. China refueling, China Aerospace refueling.
[Same period] (Tourist Mr. Zhang) I came from Nanchang, Jiangxi to watch the rocket launch. I came here just to feel the progress of China's space industry. This way is also used to support the motherland ’s space industry.
[Commentary] The new-generation manned spaceship test ship launched on this mission is a new-generation shuttle to and from the Chinese space station and the future manned lunar exploration needs. This mission will return to the spacecraft at high speed. The key technologies such as heat prevention, control, group umbrella recovery and partial reuse are verified. The flexible inflatable cargo return module test module is a tester for China's new type of space transportation aircraft. This mission will verify the key technologies of the orbit reentry of the inflatable deployable return aircraft. According to the flight procedures, the test cabin and the test ship are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site on May 6 and May 8, respectively, after completing the on-orbit test.
Reporter Guo Chaokai Lin Shijie Hainan Wenchang reports
Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]