Latest news with #Shenzhou19
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China's Shenzhou 19 astronauts return to Earth after 6 months aboard Tiangong space station (video, photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. China's three-person Shenzhou 19 mission came home on Wednesday (April 30) after six months in orbit. The Shenzhou 19 spacecraft — carrying astronauts Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze — undocked from the Tiangong space station on Tuesday (April 29) at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT; 4 a.m. on April 30 China Standard Time), according to Chinese space officials. The trio spent about nine hours in transit back to Earth, touching down at the Dongfeng landing site in northern China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Wednesday at about 1:08 a.m. EDT (0508 GMT; 1:08 p.m. China Standard Time). That was a day later than originally planned; the landing had been scheduled for Tuesday, but mission planners pushed it back due to windy weather at Dongfeng. The Shenzhou 19 astronauts had been in space since Oct. 29, when they launched toward Tiangong. And they notched some notable milestones during that stretch. For example, Cai, who was Shenzhou 19's commander, and Song spent more than nine hours outside Tiangong during a mid-December spacewalk, setting a new record for the longest extravehicular activity. The duo installed a new space debris shield on Tiangong during the super-long spacewalk. Cai and Song also conducted spacewalks on Jan. 20 and March 21, installing more shielding and inspecting extravehicular systems and equipment. The Shenzhou 19 astronauts also performed 86 scientific experiments during their time in orbit. One of those projects placed a brick made from lunar soil simulant on Tiangong's exterior, to see how it holds up in the space environment. The results could help China plan out a moon base, which it intends to build with international partners in the 2030s. Related stories: — China wants to make its Tiangong space station bigger and better — Chinese astronauts perform record-breaking 9-hour spacewalk outside Tiangong space station (video) — China plans to build moon base at the lunar south pole by 2035 Shenzhou 19 was the second spaceflight for Cai; he also flew to Tiangong on Shenzhou 14 in 2022. Song and Wang were spaceflight rookies. The Shenzhou 19 crew was China's youngest to date. Cai is 48, and both Song and Wang — currently the nation's only female spaceflight engineer — were born in 1990. The trio welcomed the three-person Shenzhou 20 mission to Tiangong on April 24 and officially handed the keys to the station over to the newcomers during a change-of-command ceremony on April 27. China finished assembling the three-module Tiangong, which is about 20% as massive as the International Space Station, in November 2022. Shenzhou 19 was the eighth crewed mission to the orbiting lab.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China's Shenzhou 20 astronauts take control of Tiangong space station (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. China's outgoing Shenzhou 19 crew have handed over the reins of the Tiangong space station to a new set of astronauts. The Shenzhou 20 mission launched on a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan spaceport in northwest China on April 24. The spacecraft arrived at the Tiangong space station 6.5 hours later, completing its rendezvous and docking at 11:49 a.m. EDT (1549 GMT, 11:49 p.m. Beijing time). The Shenzhou 19 crew — Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, who have been living aboard Tiangong since October — greeted the three Shenzhou 20 astronauts inside Tiangong around 90 minutes later, once the hatch between the spacecraft and space station was opened. After spending a few days together, all six astronauts then participated in a handover ceremony on Sunday (April 27), seeing the Shenzhou 20 crew take command of Tiangong. "This key symbolizes not only the handover between our two crew groups, but also a heavy mission and responsibility. Now, I'm handing the key into your hands, and you will be responsible for managing, caring for and maintaining the space station," said Cai, commander of Shenzhou 19. "Thank you, Shenzhou 19 crew, for taking such good care of our space home," Chen Dong, Shenzhou 20 commander, said after receiving the key. 'We assure you and our country and the people that we will, just like you, carefully and meticulously complete every task and do our part well," said Chen. Related stories: — China's Shenzhou 20 astronauts arrive at Tiangong space station (video) — Tiangong astronauts experiment with AI robot and more to kick off busy year for Chinese human spaceflight (video) — China's space station, Tiangong: A complete guide Chen's crewmates are Chen Zhongrui, a former pilot in the People's Liberation Army Air Force, and Wang Jie, an aerospace engineer, both of whom were selected as astronauts in 2020 and are making their first visits to space. The trio will spend around six months aboard Tiangong. Their mission will include extravehicular activities, or spacewalks, and outreach events, as well as conducting a range of science experiments and installing and retrieving science payloads outside Tiangong. The Shenzhou 19 astronauts, meanwhile, are now preparing to return home. They will soon depart in their Shenzhou spacecraft and are due to land in the Dongfeng landing area, near Jiuquan spaceport, on April 29. Their mission involved record-breaking spacewalks, experiments and cooperating with an AI robot.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China's Shenzhou 20 astronauts arrive at Tiangong space station (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. China's latest astronaut crew has reached its orbital destination. The three-person Shenzhou 20 mission arrived at China's Tiangong space station today (April 24) at 11:49 a.m. EDT (1549 GMT), beginning a six-month stay aboard the outpost. Their off-Earth chase was brief: Shenzhou 20 launched atop a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China today at 5:17 a.m. EDT (0917 GMT; 5:17 p.m. Beijing time). Shenzhou 20 consists of commander Chen Dong, who is on his third spaceflight, and Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, both of whom are rookies. The trio are joining the three-person Shenzhou 19 crew aboard Tiangong, though the overlap will be brief: Shenzhou 19 is expected to head back down to Earth on April 29. Shenzhou 20 is the ninth astronaut mission to reach Tiangong, a T-shaped outpost that's about 20% as massive as the International Space Station. China finished assembling the three-module Tiangong in October 2022, though the nation's space officials have said that they may add more modules to it in the future. Related stories: — China reveals Shenzhou 20 astronaut crew launching to Tiangong space station — Tiangong astronauts experiment with AI robot and more to kick off busy year for Chinese human spaceflight (video) — China's space station, Tiangong: A complete guide Shenzhou 20's launch and docking came on a big spaceflight anniversary: On April 24, 1990, NASA's iconic Hubble Space Telescope reached orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery. Hubble famously deployed with a flawed primary mirror, which made its initial images blurry. But spacewalking astronauts fixed that problem in December 1993. Hubble was maintained and upgraded on four additional servicing missions, which launched in February 1997, December 1999, March 2002 and May 2009.
Economic Times
24-04-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Shenzhou 20 Mission astronauts dock with Tiangong space station. Here's what happened
Shenzhou 20 Reaches Tiangong Space Station Crew Composition and Duration of Stay Brief Overlap with Shenzhou 19 Crew Live Events China's Ongoing Space Station Missions FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Three astronauts from China's Shenzhou 20 mission have arrived at the Tiangong space station . They launched on April 24 and will spend six months in space. The docking occurred a few hours after April 24, at 11:49 a.m. EDT (1549 GMT), the Shenzhou 20 crew docked with the Tiangong space station. The spacecraft launched earlier that day at 5:17 a.m. EDT (0917 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The launch vehicle was a Long March 2F rocket. The docking came within hours of liftoff, completing a quick orbital Shenzhou 20 crew includes commander Chen Dong , who is on his third spaceflight. The other two astronauts are Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, both making their first trips to space. They will stay aboard the station for six months. This visit is part of China's ongoing efforts to maintain a continuous human presence in Tiangong space station is currently hosting the Shenzhou 19 crew as well. The two crews will only share the station for a short period. The Shenzhou 19 astronauts are expected to return to Earth on April 29. This short handover allows for transfer of responsibilities and smooth transition of station 20 is the ninth crewed mission to Tiangong. The space station has a T-shaped structure and was fully assembled in October 2022. It is about 20 percent the mass of the International Space Station. China's space agency has plans to expand the station by adding more modules in the launch of Shenzhou 20 happened on April 24, a date that also marks the anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope's deployment. Hubble was launched by NASA on April 24, 1990, aboard the space shuttle Discovery. The telescope faced an early issue with its primary mirror, which was corrected by astronauts in 1993. Hubble received further upgrades during four servicing missions in 1997, 1999, 2002 and 20 aims to maintain human presence in space, conduct experiments and support station maintenance during a six-month stay at the Tiangong 20 is the ninth crewed mission. Each mission contributes to continuous space presence and scientific research aboard Tiangong.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Shenzhou 20 Mission astronauts dock with Tiangong space station. Here's what happened
Shenzhou 20 Reaches Tiangong Space Station Crew Composition and Duration of Stay Brief Overlap with Shenzhou 19 Crew Live Events China's Ongoing Space Station Missions FAQs Three astronauts from China's Shenzhou 20 mission have arrived at the Tiangong space station . They launched on April 24 and will spend six months in space. The docking occurred a few hours after April 24, at 11:49 a.m. EDT (1549 GMT), the Shenzhou 20 crew docked with the Tiangong space station. The spacecraft launched earlier that day at 5:17 a.m. EDT (0917 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The launch vehicle was a Long March 2F rocket. The docking came within hours of liftoff, completing a quick orbital Shenzhou 20 crew includes commander Chen Dong , who is on his third spaceflight. The other two astronauts are Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, both making their first trips to space. They will stay aboard the station for six months. This visit is part of China's ongoing efforts to maintain a continuous human presence in Tiangong space station is currently hosting the Shenzhou 19 crew as well. The two crews will only share the station for a short period. The Shenzhou 19 astronauts are expected to return to Earth on April 29. This short handover allows for transfer of responsibilities and smooth transition of station 20 is the ninth crewed mission to Tiangong. The space station has a T-shaped structure and was fully assembled in October 2022. It is about 20 percent the mass of the International Space Station. China's space agency has plans to expand the station by adding more modules in the launch of Shenzhou 20 happened on April 24, a date that also marks the anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope's deployment. Hubble was launched by NASA on April 24, 1990, aboard the space shuttle Discovery. The telescope faced an early issue with its primary mirror, which was corrected by astronauts in 1993. Hubble received further upgrades during four servicing missions in 1997, 1999, 2002 and 20 aims to maintain human presence in space, conduct experiments and support station maintenance during a six-month stay at the Tiangong 20 is the ninth crewed mission. Each mission contributes to continuous space presence and scientific research aboard Tiangong.
