China launches three new astronauts to its space station
China launched three astronauts to its space station on Thursday to replace their colleagues manning the station for the past six months.The Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship carrying the astronauts blasted off at 5:17 pm (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China, according to the live telecast by the state television CGTN.The spaceship is carrying three astronauts -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie.Shenzhou-20 is the 35th flight mission of China's manned space programme, and the fifth crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.The crew is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China in late October this year.China rotates a three-member crew manning the space station named Tiangong every six months.After the new set of crew members enter the station, the other three are expected to return to earth on April 29.The crew will conduct new life science experiments involving zebrafish, planarians and streptomyces, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) spokesman Lin Xiqiang told the media on Wednesday.These experiments will mark China's first space-based investigation into the regeneration of planarians, a new organism introduced to China's space station and known for their extraordinary ability to regrow organs, Lin said.This project will enhance our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of regeneration at the individual level and could provide insights into human health issues related to space-induced injuries, Lin said.The launch day also coincided with China's 10th Space Day.China designated April 24 as its Space Day in 2016 to mark the successful launch of its first satellite, Dongfanghong-1 on April 24, 1970.The CMSA also said on Wednesday that two Pakistani astronauts will be selected to receive spaceflight training in China to take part in a joint mission to the country's space station.One of the two Pakistanis will participate as a payload specialist, state-run Xinhua quoted a CMSA spokesperson as saying.China built its space station after it was reportedly excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) over concerns that China's space programme is manned by its military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA).It is currently the only country to have a space station while the ISS is a collaborative project of several countries.Observers say China's space station may become the only one of its kind in orbit once the ISS retires in the coming years.The two robotic arms of the station, especially the long one which has the ability to grab objects including satellites from space, drew international concerns.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
13 hours ago
- Hans India
India will build a pool of 40-50 Astronauts
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India needs to build a pool of 40-50 astronauts ready to lead future space missions as he interacted with Shubhanshu Shukla, who is back after spending 20 days in space. Shukla, who became the first Indian to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission, told the Prime Minister that there was tremendous interest across the world about India's Gaganyaan mission Shukla met Modi on Monday evening and shared his experiences of the time spent at the ISS, adjusting to micro-gravity conditions, and the experiments he carried out on the orbital lab. The video of the interaction was released on Tuesday. "There is a need to have a pool of 40-50 astronauts ready for India's future missions," Modi said, adding that Shukla's space travel was the first step towards future missions. Modi said until now, very few children may have considered becoming astronauts, but Shukla's journey will instil greater belief and generate interest in the sector. The Prime Minister said India now has two major missions ahead – Bhartiya Antariskh Station and Gaganyaan, and Shukla's experience would be of great value in these endeavours Shukla said the two missions presented a major opportunity for the country and the sustained commitment of the government to the space sector, despite setbacks such as the Chandrayaan-II mission was laudable. He said the government's continued support to the space program with consistent budgeting led to the success of Chandrayaan-3. Shukla said such support, even after failures, is being seen globally as a reflection of India's capability and positioning in the space domain. "India can acquire a leadership role and that a space station led by Bharat, with participation from other nations, would be a powerful tool," Shukla said. Shukla told the prime minister that India's Gaganyaan project was generating great interest around the world. "My crew mates even requested signed notes, expressing their desire to be invited to the launch and to travel aboard India's spacecraft," Shukla said. India plans to undertake its first human spaceflight in 2027 and build its own space station by 2035. India also has plans to land its own astronaut on the moon by 2040.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Russia launches animals into space: Here's the purpose behind the mission
Russia has a longstanding history of launching animals into orbit, a practice that began early back to the Soviet space program. Since the 1950s, these missions showcased technological capabilities and provided essential insights into how living beings react to the extreme conditions of space. Building on this history, Russia is preparing to launch the Bion-M No. 2 biosatellite on August 20, 2025, using a Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Often referred to as a modern 'Noah's Ark,' this mission will carry 75 mice, more than 1,000 fruit flies, plant seeds, cell cultures, and microorganisms for a 30-day orbital experiment. The main focus is to examine how prolonged exposure to microgravity and cosmic radiation impacts living organisms, providing important information for future human spaceflight. Innovations Compared to Earlier Missions Following the precedent set by the 2013 Bion-M No. 1 mission, Bion-M No. 2 will follow in a polar orbit inclined at roughly 97 degrees. This flight path exposes the biosatellite to far higher stages of cosmic radiation estimated to be at least ten times more than the earlier mission. These conditions better replicate the environment astronauts face during extended deep-space missions, enabling for more accurate information on the biological effects of space travel. Mice: A Core Focus for Space Medicine Mice play a critical role in the mission due to their genetic resemblance to humans, short lifespans, and heightened sensitivity to radiation. The animals will be organized into three groups: one kept on Earth under normal conditions, a second in a ground-based simulator replicating spacecraft conditions, and a third sent into orbit. This arrangement enables scientists to compare how spaceflight changes biological systems compared to Earth-based controls. Each habitat is equipped with feeding systems, lighting, ventilation, and waste disposal. Sensors and cameras will monitor the mice constantly , and some will carry implanted devices to record physiological changes during the mission. After returning to Earth, researchers will analyze how they adapted to space conditions and how they readjusted to gravity. Live Events Fruit Flies and Other Experimental Subjects Alongside the mice, over 1,000 fruit flies will also travel on the mission. . Their extensively studied biology and quick generational cycles, provide valuable insights into radiation that influence at the genetic and cellular levels. Plant seeds and cell cultures aboard the biosatellite will further inform researchers about how microgravity affects growth and cellular these experiments offer a holistic view of life's response to the conditions of space. Lunar Simulants: Exploring Moon-Like Conditions In a unique addition, the mission will include 16 test tubes of lunar simulants materials made to replicate Moon dust and rocks. Conducted in collaboration with the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry and the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems, focus to observe how lunar-like substances communicate with biological systems in orbit. The insights could guide future lunar exploration and shed light on potential effects on living organisms. FAQs: Q1. What is Bion-M No. 2? A1. A Russian space mission examining how living organisms respond to space conditions. Q2. When will it launch? A2. It will launch on August 20, 2025.
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Axiom Chief Scientist Praises "Wonderful Job" By Shubhanshu Shukla In Space
New Delhi: In a historic leap for India's human spaceflight ambitions, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, whose call sign is "Shux," completed an 18-day journey aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom 4 mission, often called 'Mission Akash Ganga'. The Axiom 4 mission, led by US-based Axiom Space, was the most science-intensive mission the company has flown to date, with over 60 experiments conducted in microgravity. Among the crew were three rookies from India, Poland and Hungary and one veteran astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson from the US, each contributing to a diverse portfolio of research spanning life sciences, plant biology, technology demonstrations, and STEM outreach. "They more than exceeded my expectations," said Dr Lucie Low, a neurobiologist and Chief Scientist at Axiom Space, in an exclusive conversation with NDTV. "The Axiom 4 crew were absolutely extraordinary at all of the activities that they undertook. From the science perspective, they had the busiest portfolio that we have had on a mission to date." While the mission was a team effort, Group Captain Shukla stood out for his remarkable adaptability and dedication. A trained fighter pilot from the Indian Air Force, he embraced the challenge of becoming a "scientist" in space, mastering conducting complex experiments in microgravity - a notoriously unpredictable environment where even simple tasks can become difficult. "Shux, as a fighter pilot, did an extraordinary job of learning all of the science, performing it in microgravity, which can be very challenging at times," Dr Low noted. "Things don't necessarily react in the way that you expect them to. And things tend to float away if you're trying to keep hold of them. He did an absolutely wonderful job of performing all of the experiments." Among the highlights of Group Captain Shukla's contributions were experiments on plant sprouting in space, muscle regeneration, and fluid dynamics. He also led several demonstrations aimed at inspiring students across India, explaining how the digestive system and other biological processes behave in space. "He helped explain, for example, how the digestive system works in space, how fluids behave in space, and how all kinds of things are very different in space," said Dr Low. "He did an absolutely fantastic job of inspiring an entire continent of young people, I think, who are going to want to be astronauts in future as well." India's participation in the Axiom 4 mission is more than symbolic-it's strategic. With seven experiments flown by Indian scientists, mostly focused on agriculture and food, the mission served as a training ground for ISRO's Gaganyaan program, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space, build a national space station by 2035, and eventually land an Indian on the Moon by 2040. "Everything that India is doing, it's not just necessarily about flying simple seeds to space," emphasised Dr Low. "It's also about learning the experience of how do you fly an experiment in space? How do you train a fighter pilot to become a 'scientist' in space? How do you learn these processes that enable a nation to live and work successfully in space?" The mission's success has energised India's space community and validated its approach to human spaceflight. The collaboration with Axiom Space provided ISRO with invaluable insights into astronaut training, experiment design, and space operations, skills that will be crucial as India prepares for its crewed missions. "Everything that ISRO and India have done with the Axiom-4 mission has been learning those skills, learning that equipment, learning those processes," Dr Low added. "And this is all tremendously supportive to the Gaganyaan program." As the mission concluded, the sentiment from Dr Low was that the Mission Akash Ganga was a resounding success. "It was a fantastic mission. The crew did a phenomenal job. The science is really exciting," said Dr Low. "We're so proud of them, of all the crew's work, and we're so delighted that our researchers around the world were able to get their results data, their data back, their results back. We can't wait to see the papers and the publications start coming out to tell the world about that research." With Group Captain Shukla's stellar performance and India's growing expertise in space science, the Axiom-4 Mission has laid a strong foundation for the Gaganyaan program. It's not just a mission - it's a milestone in India's journey to becoming a human space flight-faring nation. At 39 years of age, Mr Shukla has a long way to go to make India's human space program a success.
