China Space Mission: China on Tuesday dispatched three astronauts via a spacecraft to its under-construction space station amid tough competition with the US. The Shenzhou-15 spacecraft was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. It has three astronauts – Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu. Ji Qiming, assistant to the director of the China Manned Space Mission (CMSA), told the media that Fei would be the commander of the mission.
This launch was done through ‘Long March-2F’ rocket. The crew will remain in orbit for approximately six months, a period in which construction of the space station is expected to be completed in lower orbit. This is the third manned mission sent by China to its space station. After the construction is completed, China will be the only country to have its own space station as Russia’s International Space Station (ISS) is a collaborative project of many countries.
According to previously announced plans by China, the space station is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The China Space Station (CSS) is also expected to be a competitor to the Russian-built ISS. Observers say the CSS could become the only space station to remain in orbit after the ISS retires in the coming years.
Assistant to the CMSA Director told
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Ji Qiming, assistant to the CMSA director, told the media that the launch will be carried out from the Long March-2F carrier rocket, which will soon be filled with propellant. Ji said that while in orbit, the Shenzhou-15 crew would witness the arrival of the Tianzhou-6 cargo craft and the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft.
China is launching several rockets amidst concern about the falling debris of rockets, which is scattered around the world. The official news agency Xinhua reported that the Shenzhou-15 astronauts will return in May next year. This is the third manned mission to be launched by China to connect with its space station.
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