China Space Station-Tiangong

skywatcher

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At 6: 58p.m. (BJT) on May 28, Shenzhou18 crew closed the airlock hatch door, ending the 8.5-hour-long spacewalk, making a record of the longest spacewalk time for Chinese astronauts. This is the 15th EVA conducted by Chinese taikonauts.
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skywatcher

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China's space station crew conducts spacewalk to install 'space debris protection devices'
 

DumbPilot

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Great to see the Chinese catching up in space. Do they have more autonomous lunar missions planned?
 

skywatcher

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China selects new batch of astronauts with an eye on the moon

Andrew Jones June 11, 2024

HELSINKI —China’s human spaceflight agency announced the selection of 10 new astronauts Tuesday, aiming to bolster its spaceflight capabilities for future missions, including potential crewed lunar landings.

The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) selected 10 astronauts for its fourth batch of astronauts, it announced June 11. The 10 consist of eight pilots and two payload specialists. The latter pair are China’s first astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The selected will receive systematic training at the Astronaut Center of China (ACC). They will be eligible for flights to the Tiangong space station after two years of basic training.

China started recruiting its fourth batch of astronauts in October 2022. Candidates went through preliminary selection, re-selection, and final selection. These phases included comprehensive and in-depth clinical medical examinations, physiological and psychological tests and endurance and adaptability to the space environment tests.

CMSEO, which operates under the People’s Liberation Army, did not reveal identities of the astronauts, nor the gender ratio of the group. The 2020 selection of 18 astronauts included just one woman. A Hongkonger woman is one of the payload specialists for the fourth batch, according to the South China Morning Post.

China’s human spaceflight activities are relatively secretive. CMSEO only reveals identities of crew members for Shenzhou missions to Tiangong via press conferences a day ahead of launch.

The country is targeting putting a pair of astronauts on the moon before 2030. This is part of the country’s growing human spaceflight ambitions, including expanding Tiangong and a sustained lunar presence. Huang Weifen, chief designer of the astronaut system of China’s human spaceflight program, told CCTV that ACC is focusing on the major tasks of the space station and future lunar missions. A lunar landing mission training simulator is being developed to allow relevant training to be carried out.

China’s initial crewed lunar landing plan is a short-term mission. However the country plans to establish an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) for a more permanent presence. It is also planning to expand Tiangong with further modules, providing further opportunities for spaceflight.

 

skywatcher

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China selects new batch of astronauts with an eye on the moon

Andrew Jones June 11, 2024

HELSINKI —China’s human spaceflight agency announced the selection of 10 new astronauts Tuesday, aiming to bolster its spaceflight capabilities for future missions, including potential crewed lunar landings.

The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) selected 10 astronauts for its fourth batch of astronauts, it announced June 11. The 10 consist of eight pilots and two payload specialists. The latter pair are China’s first astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.

The selected will receive systematic training at the Astronaut Center of China (ACC). They will be eligible for flights to the Tiangong space station after two years of basic training.

China started recruiting its fourth batch of astronauts in October 2022. Candidates went through preliminary selection, re-selection, and final selection. These phases included comprehensive and in-depth clinical medical examinations, physiological and psychological tests and endurance and adaptability to the space environment tests.

CMSEO, which operates under the People’s Liberation Army, did not reveal identities of the astronauts, nor the gender ratio of the group. The 2020 selection of 18 astronauts included just one woman. A Hongkonger woman is one of the payload specialists for the fourth batch, according to the South China Morning Post.

China’s human spaceflight activities are relatively secretive. CMSEO only reveals identities of crew members for Shenzhou missions to Tiangong via press conferences a day ahead of launch.

The country is targeting putting a pair of astronauts on the moon before 2030. This is part of the country’s growing human spaceflight ambitions, including expanding Tiangong and a sustained lunar presence. Huang Weifen, chief designer of the astronaut system of China’s human spaceflight program, told CCTV that ACC is focusing on the major tasks of the space station and future lunar missions. A lunar landing mission training simulator is being developed to allow relevant training to be carried out.

China’s initial crewed lunar landing plan is a short-term mission. However the country plans to establish an International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) for a more permanent presence. It is also planning to expand Tiangong with further modules, providing further opportunities for spaceflight.

 

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