According to Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s manned space project, China will launch the core module of the space station with the Long March 5B Yao-2 rocket in Wenchang, Hainan this spring (2021). At present, the core module has basically completed all the testing work, the astronaut crew has been selected, and mission training is underway.
China will launch the core module of the space station this spring
Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s manned space project, said that the core module of the space station will be launched this spring first, followed by the launch of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft, completing the rendezvous and docking and verification of related key technologies in orbit.
Zhou Jianping, Chief Designer of China’s Manned Space Project: We will build China’s first long-term orbital manned space station with an internationally advanced level and carry out large-scale space scientific research on it. We firmly believe that it is at the forefront of scientific exploration. The field also plays an important role in the development of our aerospace technology.
According to the mission plan, the construction of the space station is implemented in two phases. Previously, the first flight of Long March 5B has been successfully completed, and 11 launches will be completed successively, including the core cabin and two experimental cabins, 4 cargo ships and 4 cargo ships People spaceship. Among them, during the key technology verification phase, 6 missions including the launch of the core module were arranged. It is understood that the key technology verification phase of the space station will comprehensively verify the new technologies of the space station, such as regenerative life support technology and robotic arm technology, and the astronauts will also carry out multiple space exit activities.
Zhou Jianping, Chief Designer of China’s Manned Space Project: Each of these tasks is very important. This includes a large number of things, including production, development, testing, launch, recovery, and on-orbit management, on-orbit control, and a large number of scientific research activities. Therefore, we will fight on multiple fronts. We may At that time, there were two launch sites and our three rocket models. So it will be really busy, and more importantly, to ensure success, ensure quality, ensure safety, and ensure reliability.
In 1992, the Party Central Committee made a “three-step” development strategy for the implementation of manned space projects:
The first step is to launch a manned spacecraft, build a preliminary supporting experimental manned spacecraft project and carry out space application experiments;
The second step is to make breakthroughs in astronaut out-vehicle activity technology, spacecraft rendezvous and docking technology, launch space laboratory, and solve the problem of a certain scale of short-term manned space applications;
The third step is to build a space station to solve the problem of large-scale long-term manned space applications.
During the “13th Five-Year Plan” period, China’s manned space project successively launched the Long March 7 carrier rocket, the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft, and the Tianzhou-1 cargo spacecraft, which verified cargo transportation and propellants. The key technologies for the construction and operation of the space station, such as supplementary in-orbit and mid-term stationing of astronauts, have laid a solid foundation for the development and construction of the “third step” space station.
China Space Station enters the full implementation stage
During the “Thirteenth Five-Year Plan” period, China’s manned space project has achieved notable progress and important results around space laboratory missions and space station development and construction. Strive to complete the on-orbit construction plan around 2022 and prepare for the subsequent realization of the long-term stable on-orbit operation of the space station.
At 18:00 on May 5, 2020, the Long March 5B carrier rocket developed for China’s manned space station project, equipped with a new generation of manned spacecraft test ship and flexible inflatable cargo return cabin test module, ignited at the Wenchang space launch site in China The first flight mission was a complete success, laying an important foundation for the construction of the Chinese space station on orbit. Before launching, the initial sample products of the space station core module were jointly practiced with the launch vehicle system, launch site system, and astronaut system to comprehensively assess the correctness of the space station system.
Yang Hong, Chief Designer of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group and Space Station System: Now we are intensively conducting various ground experiments to ensure that we can effectively identify risks, control the quality of our products, and effectively control The risk can be eliminated during the ground development period.
According to the plan, the China Space Station will launch the Tianhe Core Module, Wentian Experimental Module, and Mengtian Experimental Module successively to carry out the on-orbit assembly and construction of the basic configuration of the space station. In the meantime, it plans to launch 4 Shenzhou manned spacecraft and 4 Tianzhou cargo ships. Spacecraft, astronaut crew rotation and cargo replenishment.
Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s manned space project: This is the first time that we have built such a large space station, based on the principles of reliability and safety. After our core module is in orbit, we will launch cargo spacecraft and manned spacecraft one after another. We will further verify the key technologies of our space station, including the astronauts’ technology to further verify the astronaut’s exit activity.
Since March 2017, astronaut training has been fully transferred to the mission preparation of the space station. At present, the crew of astronauts to perform four missions during the construction phase of the space station has been selected. The mission period is 3 to 6 months. The crew has participated in nearly a hundred engineering development and test activities, including man-ship and man-ship. , Man-ship station-ground joint test, underwater verification test for out-of-cabin activities, and efficacy evaluation and other tests.
Huang Weifen, chief designer of the astronaut system of China’s manned space project: We have considered the astronauts’ flight experience, current situation, their age and psychological compatibility, and subsequent development. Taking these factors into consideration, we coordinated 4 flight crews, each with 3 people, and the astronauts who had performed the missions were the commanders.
On October 1, 2020, the third batch of 18 reserve astronauts will join the astronaut team, including 7 space pilots, 7 space flight engineers, and 4 load experts. They will participate in various missions during the operation phase of the space station. At present, the development of the core cabins of the China Space Station is progressing smoothly, and the space application system is being developed for the development of space station scientific experiment facilities and application mission demonstrations during the operation phase.
Hao Chun, Director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office: At the same time, we are still organizing plans for manned lunar exploration, deepening the demonstration and tackling key technologies. I believe that through the efforts of all astronauts, the Chinese people will surely advance more steadily and farther in space exploration.