Page 6 - Spec Tech Vol 1 Issue 09
P. 6
China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong
space station for 1st crew handover
Image Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty Images
China's fourth crew has reached the nation's January 1998 and made his first, and so far
newly completed Tiangong space sta- only, trip to space in 2005 as commander of
tion. A Long March 2F rocket topped with the the five-day-long Shenzhou 6 mission. He is
Shenzhou 15 spacecraft lifted off from returning to space after 17 years. Deng, 56, is
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi the last active member of the first generation of
Desert on (Nov. 29) at 10:08 a.m. EST (1508 astronauts to get his first ride into outer space.
GMT; 11:08 p.m. local time). Spacecraft The third crew member, Zhang Lu, 46, is part
separation occurred some 10 minutes later. of China’s second batch of astronauts, which
Fei Junlong (the mission commander), Deng were selected in May 2010. He is also making
Qingming and Zhang Lu — who his first trip to space, following 12 years of
were unveiled as the Shenzhou 15 crew just training. Zhang also says he intends to sing
(Nov. 28) — arrived at Tiangong on Nov 28 at (opens in new tab) in space."Although we are
4:42 p.m. EST (2142 UTC), Chinese space the oldest crew in terms of average age, we're
officials announced. The Shenzhou 15 confident in our capabilities, as we are still in
mission marks the start of full operations the 'state of youth,'" Fei said(opens in new
aboard Tiangong, with the trio lined up to tab) during a Nov. 28 press conference.
conduct more than 100 experiments using 24 "Seventeen years ago, I was on the Shenzhou
specially designed science cabinets installed 6 mission. Even now I'm still excited when I
in the new Wentian and Mengtian modules. recall those vivid memories. Today I'm
Fei, Deng and Zhang were greeted on extremely proud and excited to go to space
Tiangong by the Shenzhou 14 crew — Chen again for my country," Fei added.
Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe — who have
spent the past half year in space helping On Nov. 12, China launched the Tianzhou
construct the space station. The three new 5 cargo spacecraft, which delivered around
astronauts will take control of the completed, 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms) of goods and
T-shaped Tiangong space station, which materials to support the Shenzhou 15 crew for
received its second and third modules in their mission.
recent months. Fei, 57, was selected as one
of China's first-generation astronauts in
Space Explorer 2022 6
