The Shenzhou-12 manned spaceship is launched at 9:22 am Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Shenzhou XII, which is carrying three astronauts—Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo, is set to rendezvous (会合) and then dock with (对接) the core module, named Tianhe, or Harmony of Heavens, in a matter of hours. Then the crew will float into the module and start their three-month mission inside the craft, the first, and central, section of China’s space station, named Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace.
During this mission, astronauts are scheduled to conduct two extravehicular (舱外的) operations, popularly known as spacewalks, to use mechanical arms to install equipment and check Tianhe’s external condition.
Their work will enable the China Manned Space Agency to accumulate experience and check the capability, performance and compatibility of systems involved in the space station program to prepare for the next steps in its construction, said Ji Qiming, the agency’s assistant director.
In 2022, two large space labs will be launched to connect with the core module. Moreover, two manned missions and two robotic cargo flights will be made that year to continue construction of the Tiangong station, which is scheduled to become complete and start formal operation around the end of 2022.
Upon its completion, Tiangong will be manned regularly by groups of three astronauts in periods lasting several months. During handovers (移交) to new three-astronaut groups, the station will accommodate up to six astronauts.
本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写,未经书面授权,禁止复制和任何商业用途,版权所有,侵权必究!(作者投稿及时文阅读定制请联系微信:18980471698)