China News Service, Beijing, May 8 Question: Traveling to Tianyu Kaige also-a new generation of manned spaceship test ship opens a new chapter in China ’s manned spaceflight

  Author Guo Chaokai

  Three huge red and white "umbrella flowers" were placed above the Dongfeng landing site in China. The return cabin of the new-generation manned spaceship test ship seemed to press the "slow release key" and slowly swayed down to the ground.

The return cabin of China's new-generation manned spacecraft test vessel successfully landed in the predetermined area of ​​the Dongfeng landing site. Photo courtesy of China Manned Space Engineering Office

  In the lobby of the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, researchers are nervously watching the synchronization on the big screen. The return cabin is getting closer and closer to the ground, six airbags are opened, the landing cushion, and a smooth landing. The long-awaited applause echoed throughout the hall.

  On May 8, the return cabin of the new-generation manned spacecraft test ship successfully landed in the predetermined area of ​​the Dongfeng landing site, which marked the successful success of the test ship flight test mission, and also meant that China ’s manned space industry has opened a new chapter.

  From successful launch to safe return, the performance of the new generation of manned spaceship test ship is perfect. Seven key technologies including autonomous orbit control, group parachute aerodynamic deceleration, and airbag landing buffer were successfully verified. These technologies point the way to the development of new spacecraft in the next stage, paving a new "sky" to space.

  Space is called the "fourth territory" after land, sea and air. Since the beginning of the 21st century, space exploration has become a strategic "commanding height" to ensure national security and realize national interests. The manned spaceflight represents the comprehensive national strength and scientific and technological strength of a country.

  Since 1992, China's manned spaceflight project has steadily moved forward in accordance with the "three-step" development strategy. The R & D team of China Academy of Space Technology has made breakthroughs and mastered a series of key manned spaceflight technologies, realizing China ’s manned spaceflight project from unmanned to manned, from one to many, from one day to many days, from cabin to rendezvous China ’s leap-forward development has established the ability of China ’s autonomous space station to have round-trip transportation.

  According to statistics, since the launch of the Shenzhou-1 spacecraft in 1999, China's manned spaceflight project has successively organized and implemented 16 major flight missions, all of which have been successful. So far, the Shenzhou spacecraft has successfully completed 11 flights, successively sending 11 (14 passengers) astronauts into space and returning safely.

  To meet the mission requirements of China's manned spaceflight to advance to a more distant deep space, in 2015, the China Academy of Space Technology demonstrated the proposal to develop a new generation of spacecraft test ship for high-speed re-entry flight test. From January 2017 to December 2019, in just three years, the hospital completed the project design, product development, ship assembly, comprehensive testing, large-scale testing, breaking through a large number of key technologies, creating this from scratch A new generation of manned spaceship test vessel carrying new hopes and opening up a new "sky road".

  After mission verification, the test vessel broke through key technologies such as high-speed re-entry control, heat prevention and group umbrella recovery deceleration of the new generation manned spacecraft. Compared with the internationally advanced space shuttle, China's new generation manned spacecraft is not inferior, with the ability to adapt to multi-mission requirements, take into account land and water landings, and greater orbital maneuverability.

  The success of the new-generation manned spacecraft test ship's mission is a sign that China's new-generation manned spaceship has taken shape. The China Academy of Space Technology told reporters that in the future, the institute will carry out in-depth demonstration of the overall plan of a new generation of manned spacecraft in accordance with the needs of the mission, and as soon as possible to improve and develop a high-carrying capacity and freight transportation capacity, adapt to the near-Earth space station and manned deep space exploration The mission's new generation of manned spacecraft has enabled China's manned space shuttle transportation technology to fully realize the leap from running to running, allowing the Chinese people to explore space more stable and farther. (Finish)