What achievements has China's manned spaceflight industry unlocked this year?

　　China News Service, Beijing, December 31 (Liu Huan) In 2022, China's manned spaceflight industry has made further breakthroughs.

This year, the Shenzhou 14 and 15 manned spacecraft were successfully launched, the Wentian and Mengtian experimental modules were successfully docked, and China’s space station construction made a historic breakthrough... Looking back on this year, what achievements have we unlocked in the sky? ?

6 missions, 6 astronauts, the puzzle of China's space station is completed

　　On May 10, the Long March 7 Yao-5 carrier rocket carrying the Tianzhou-4 cargo spacecraft was successfully launched at the Wenchang Space Launch Site. This is the 22nd launch mission of my country's manned spaceflight project, and it is also a key technology verification for the construction of China's space station. The first launch mission in which the phase shifted to the on-orbit construction phase opened the prelude to the construction of China's space station in orbit.

　　Subsequently, the first launch mission of China's space station in the orbital construction phase - the Shenzhou 14 manned flight mission was a complete success.

Three astronauts, Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe, entered the core module of Tianhe and started a 6-month stay in orbit.

　　In July and October, the Wentian Experimental Module and Mengtian Experimental Module were launched successively, and the basic configuration of the Chinese space station "T" was assembled in orbit.

　　Nine days after the successful launch of the Mengtian experimental module, the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft was launched on board the Long March 7-6 carrier rocket, and successfully carried out autonomous and rapid rendezvous and docking with the space station assembly operating in orbit. It took only 2 hours to create a world A new record for the shortest rendezvous and docking in spaceflight history.

　　On November 29, the construction of China's space station in orbit ushered in the final battle.

Three astronauts, Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming, and Zhang Lu, boarded the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 15 and successfully stationed in the Chinese space station. The two astronauts on Shenzhou 14 and 15 achieved the first "space meeting" and created China. A historic moment in spaceflight.

Combination of Shenzhou 15 manned spacecraft and Long March 2 F Yao 15 launch vehicle Source: China Manned Space Engineering Office

　　Since then, all 12 launch missions in the key technology verification and construction phase of China's space station have been completed.

　　Since the launch of the Tianhe core module at the end of April 2021, we have successfully organized 3 space station module launches, 4 manned spacecraft launches and 4 cargo spacecraft launches at the Wenchang and Jiuquan launch sites in less than 20 months. , the shortest interval between two missions at the same launch site is only 12 days.

"Again"

　　After the two crews handed over the keys to the Chinese space station, the crew of Shenzhou 14, known as the "busiest crew", returned to the Dongfeng landing site on the Shenzhou spacecraft on December 4.

　　During the 6-month stay in orbit, three astronauts, Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe, carried out three out-of-cabin activities successively, completed the installation and commissioning of the space station's internal and external equipment and space application mission-related facilities and equipment, and carried out a series of space science experiments. and technical experiments, and used the mission gap to conduct a "Tiangong Classroom" space lecture.

　　The crew of God 14 is the crew with the youngest average age since the space station mission.

Among them, Liu Yang is China's first female astronaut in space.

　　Ten years ago, she took the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft to perform the first manned rendezvous and docking mission with Tiangong-1.

　　When he was about to return to the orbital cabin, Liu Yang stopped at the cabin door, turned around and saluted Tiangong-1.

At that time, she agreed in her heart that she would definitely come back in the near future, "I didn't expect that 'soon' would be ten years."

　　In 2019, Liu Yang was identified as an astronaut of the God 14 Crew.

Many tasks on the space station require astronauts to have sufficient upper body strength, which is quite a test for Liu Yang.

　　In order to reach the standard as soon as possible, Liu Yang discussed a special training plan with the physical education teacher. After more than two years of hard training, she was finally able to sail by boat, fulfilling the agreement ten years ago.

Fourteen Gods and Fifteen Astronauts Group Photo in Space Source: China Manned Space Engineering Office

　　If the key word of the crew of Shenzhou 14 is "busiest", then the crew of Shenzhou 15 is "Dream Realization".

Astronaut Deng Qingming waited nearly 25 years for this space dream.

　　On January 5, 1998, Deng Qingming became a member of the astronaut brigade, but missed flying several times.

Among the astronauts who entered the brigade side by side with him back then, 8 of them realized their dreams of space, and 5 of them had already stopped sailing and left the team.

　　But he never gave up training.

After 24 years, he finally ushered in the opportunity to realize his dream.

　　The mission of Shenzhou 15 was heavy, and the number of space missions exceeded the previous ones. Deng Qingming increased the intensity and frequency of training for this reason.

The most he said was "one more time".

　　After the day's training is over, he will ask himself to "do it again" for the unskilled areas until the operation is mature.

"I have always firmly believed that it is better to be prepared than not to be used, and never to be unprepared." Deng Qingming said.

China's space station is always worth looking forward to

　　On November 30, the two crews took a group photo in the space station and shouted "China's space station is always worth looking forward to".

　　China's space station is a "dream factory" for space science research and applications. It not only supports larger-scale space research experiments and new technology experiments, but also solicits cooperative experimental projects from all United Nations member states that intend to carry them on China's space station.

　　At present, 9 projects from 17 countries and 23 entities have become the first batch of selected projects for China's space station scientific experiments.

　　Hao Chun, director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, once said that in the next ten years, the scientific experiment cabinets arranged inside the space station and the large-scale load facilities outside the cabin will be used to carry out larger-scale space research experiments and new technology tests. "Especially next year, we will It is planned to launch my country's first large-scale space survey telescope to carry out cutting-edge scientific research in wide-area sky survey observations and other aspects."

Shenzhou 15 Crew Source: China Manned Space Engineering Office

　　The construction of China's space station has also attracted foreign attention.

　　Simonetta Dipipo, director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, said that China's open space station is an important part of the United Nations' "Global Shared Space" initiative and is a "great example."

　　A related report by CNN quoted Molly Schick, a scholar at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, as saying that the Chinese space station has shown the world that "China has the foresight and ability to complete the feat."

　　As Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned spaceflight project, said: "The sacred mission of the space station is to become a Chinese national laboratory in space, supporting scientists in cutting-edge scientific exploration, space technology research, and the development and utilization of space resources. The ultimate goal is to For the benefit of all mankind.” (End)