Latest news with #Shenzhou-20
NDTV
3 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
China Launches First Mission To Retrieve Asteroid Samples For Research
China on Thursday launched a space probe on the country's first mission to retrieve samples from an asteroid and bring them home for research, the Xinhua state news agency reported. Beijing has ploughed billions of dollars into its space programme in recent years in an effort to achieve what President Xi Jinping describes as the country's "space dream". It has built a space station orbiting the Earth and plans to run a crewed mission to the Moon this decade ahead of establishing a permanent base there. A Long March-3B rocket carrying the Tianwen-2 probe blasted off from the Xichang launch site in southwestern Sichuan province "in the early hours of Thursday," Xinhua said. "Shan Zhongde, head of the China National Space Administration, stated that the Tianwen-2 mission represents a significant step in China's new journey of interplanetary exploration," the news agency reported. Tianwen-2 is tasked with collecting samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3, and exploring the comet 311P, according to the country's space agency. Discovered by scientists in Hawaii in 2016, the asteroid is roughly 40 to 100 metres (130-330 feet) in diameter and orbits relatively close to Earth. It is a "living fossil" consisting of ancient materials that can help scientists understand how the early solar system formed, Xinhua reported this week. The comet, meanwhile, orbits between Mars and Jupiter and is alluring to researchers because it exhibits some features more commonly associated with asteroids. The Tianwen-2 mission is expected to last around a decade. China's space programme is the third to put humans in orbit -- after the United States and the Soviet Union -- and has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. Its space station, Tiangong -- whose name means "celestial palace" in Chinese -- is the jewel in its crown. Last month, China sent three astronauts to Tiangong for a six-month stint as part of the Shenzhou-20 mission.
RTHK
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTHK
Shenzhou-20 crew sends video greetings from space
Shenzhou-20 crew sends video greetings from space In their video greeting, Chinese astronauts - from left - Wang Jie, Chen Dong, and Chen Zhongrui - reflected on their childhood aspirations as Young Pioneers. Photo: CCTV The Shenzhou-20 crew on board China's orbiting space station on Wednesday extended greetings to children in celebration of the upcoming International Children's Day on June 1. The crew, made up of Chinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie, reflected on their childhood aspirations as Young Pioneers to contribute to China's space exploration. They expressed hope that today's youth would actively play a role in the nation's progress. The Chinese Young Pioneers (CYP) is a national organisation for Chinese children. "I still remember the first time I put on the [young pioneer's] red scarf. It was then that I made a silent vow to become someone who could contribute to society. That childhood dream has guided me through my journey in the aerospace field, and it's what has brought me to space today," said Chen Dong. "Back when I was a young pioneer, I was fascinated by the blue sky and curious about what was beyond Earth. When China's first manned spacecraft, Shenzhou-5, was launched, I was thrilled, and it strengthened my determination. Today, I've finally realised my dream and am able to work aboard China's space station," said Chen Zhongrui. "I have been remembering clearly the first line of the CYP anthem: 'We are the successors of communism.' This song has inspired generations of young pioneers to honour the legacy of our revolutionary predecessors, following in their footsteps with courage and striving toward our ideals. "When I sang this as a child, it always filled me with a sense of strength. Today, I'm proud to be an astronaut, contributing to our country's space endeavours. In the future, I hope you, the younger generation, will carry the baton and help China's space exploration to take steadier and farther steps," said Wang Jie. "This time, we brought the CYP flag to China's space station.... We believe you will take up the baton of history, starting by learning from the pioneers and growing into true pioneers, with the ambition to serve and strengthen our nation, and to be resolute and responsible strivers." Chen Dong added. The crew declared a "happy Children's Day to all the children" as they waved a Chinese Young Pioneers flag. The Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft was successfully launched on April 24, 2025. (CCTV)
Kuwait Times
22-05-2025
- Science
- Kuwait Times
Chinese rocket blasts off to its space station
JIUQUAN, China: A Chinese rocket carrying three astronauts to the country's space station blasted off from its remote launch site Thursday, the latest milestone in Beijing's race to become a leading celestial power. Beijing has pumped billions of dollars into its space program in recent years in an effort to achieve what President Xi Jinping describes as the Chinese people's 'space dream'. The world's second-largest economy has bold plans to send a crewed mission to the Moon by the end of the decade and eventually build a base on the lunar surface. Thursday's launch of the Shenzhou-20 mission is intended to ferry a team of three astronauts to China's Tiangong space station. The Long March-2F rocket lifted into the air in a plume of flame and smoke at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Base in the desert of northwest China, AFP journalists saw, heralding the start of the six-month mission. Leading the newest crew is Chen Dong, 46, a former fighter pilot and veteran space explorer who in 2022 became the first Chinese astronaut to clock up more than 200 cumulative days in orbit. The other two crew members - 40-year-old former air force pilot Chen Zhongrui, and 35-year-old former space technology engineer Wang Jie - are embarking on their first space flight. Hundreds of people brandishing bouquets and miniature national flags packed into the streets of the space base hours before the launch to see the astronauts off on Thursday afternoon. A band played a rousing military march as the trio, clad in white spacesuits, waved in front of a red banner proclaiming: 'Learn from our astronauts! Salute our astronauts!' 'We wish you success!' the crowd shouted in unison as the crew members passed. Live images on state television then showed the three astronauts being transported by bus to the launch site, beyond which vast stretches of empty desert could be seen. The crew will work on Tiangong for six months, carrying out experiments in physics and life sciences and installing protective equipment against space debris. For the first time, they will also bring aboard planarians — aquatic flatworms known for their regenerative abilities. The team will also conduct spacewalks, replenish supplies and carry out general maintenance on the space station. Three astronauts currently aboard Tiangong are scheduled to return to Earth on April 29 after completing handover procedures. Busloads of space enthusiasts waited by a barren highway several hours ahead of Thursday's launch, braving the high desert sun to catch a glimpse of the rocket perched on the horizon. A kiosk by the entrance to the launch base did brisk trade in toy rockets and mission-themed memorabilia. During a government tour on Wednesday afternoon, AFP journalists saw the rocket ensconced in a sky-blue launch tower, surrounded by red flags as workers in blue jumpsuits made final checks before the launch. China's space program is the third to put humans in orbit and has also landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon as it seeks parity with the world's two most established celestial powers, the United States and Russia. Crewed by rotating teams of three astronauts every six months, Tiangong — whose name means 'celestial palace' in Chinese — is the jewel in its crown. China has been excluded from the International Space Station since 2011, when the United States banned NASA from collaborating with Beijing. It has since sought to bring other countries into its space program, and signed a deal with longtime ally Pakistan in February to bring the first foreign astronaut aboard Tiangong. As part of this process, 'two Pakistani astronauts will be selected to come to China for training', the CMSA confirmed on Wednesday. — AFP
The Star
04-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
China's Shenzhou-19 astronauts return home after forced landing site switch
China's three-person Shenzhou-19 crew successfully landed at a new site in the Inner Mongolia region on Wednesday, after poor weather delayed their return from the Tiangong space station. The crew's commander Cai Xuzhe and astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze – the country's third female astronaut and the only female space flight engineer – were originally supposed to make their return one day earlier. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Wednesday that the return of the Shenzhou-19 crew – including the youngest Chinese astronaut so far – was delayed by strong winds at the original landing site. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. The agency added that the landing would be moved to the eastern section of the Dongfeng landing site where the meteorological conditions met requirements. It marked the first time a crew would land in this area, it said. 'Faced with new situations and new challenges, the entire project team worked closely together, linked up with the ground and the sky, and quickly formulated response measures to ensure the success of the mission,' the CMSA said in a social media post. The Shenzhou-19 crew began their six-month mission at the space station on October 29, completing tasks like compiling and sending remaining experimental data before returning to Earth, according to the CMSA. Ahead of their departure, the astronauts handed over the reins to the Shenzhou-20 crew, who arrived at the space station on April 24. At a press conference the day before the Shenzhou-20 launch, CMSA deputy director Lin Xiqiang said that the Shenzhou-19 crew took part in 88 research projects – in the fields of microgravity, life sciences, aerospace medicine, and materials science – while on board. This included the world's first in-orbit demonstration of artificial photosynthesis technology, which produced oxygen and ingredients necessary to make rocket fuel. Cai, the crew's commander, performed five activities outside the Tiangong, making him the Chinese astronaut with the most extravehicular activities. Cai and Song also set a new world record for the longest spacewalk, at nine hours and six minutes, Lin said. The new crew is expected to continue the work of the Shenzhou-19 astronauts, including running science experiments and performing extravehicular activities. They will also begin new experiments, including studying space tissue regeneration. More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
L'Orient-Le Jour
02-05-2025
- Science
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Three astronauts of the Shenzhou-19 mission return to Earth
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Wednesday after spending six months in the national Tiangong space station ("Heavenly Palace"), according to a state media outlet, marking another step in China's assertion into space power. The capsule carrying the trio, including Wang Haoze, the third Chinese woman in space, landed shortly after 1 p.m. (0500 GMT) in Inner Mongolia (north of China), the Xinhua news agency reported. This marks the end of the Shenzhou-19 mission. China had postponed the crew's return, initially scheduled for Tuesday, due to poor weather conditions on the ground. The country has invested billions of euros in its space program to catch up with the U.S. and Russia. It hopes to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2030 and build a lunar base. The three astronauts of Shenzhou-19 had been working in the space station since October. They conducted numerous experiments, contributed to Tiangong's maintenance, and set a new record for the longest spacewalk in history (over nine hours). Among the three astronauts of Shenzhou-19 was 35-year-old Wang Haoze. The only Chinese aerospace engineer at the time of the mission launch, she became the third Chinese woman to reach space - after Liu Yang (2012) and Wang Yaping (2013). The crew was led by Cai Xuzhe, 48, an experienced astronaut who had already participated in Shenzhou-14. They were accompanied by Song Lingdong, a 34-year-old former air force pilot, who was on his first space flight. Three new astronauts took off last week to Tiangong, marking the start of the Shenzhou-20 mission. They cohabited for a few days with their Shenzhou-19 colleagues.
