Latest news with #Shenzhou21
South China Morning Post
12-07-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
China's Tianzhou-9 cargo craft set for Tiangong space station resupply mission
China's Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft is ready for launch to resupply the Tiangong Space Station , according to state news agency Xinhua on Saturday. The cargo spacecraft and a Long March-7 Y10 carrier rocket have been transported to the launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the southern island province of Hainan, according to Xinhua, which cited the China Manned Space Agency. 'The cargo spacecraft will be launched in the near future at an appropriate time,' the space agency said. It said functionality checks and joint tests would proceed as planned, adding that facilities and equipment at the launch site were 'in good condition'. The cargo spacecraft will carry 6.5 tonnes of supplies, including consumables, propellants and equipment for medical and space technology experiments to be performed by astronauts on the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 missions, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The supplies also include two sets of domestically developed spacesuits that can be used for 20 spacewalks over four years – an upgrade in lifespan from the previous three years and 15 spacewalks. The astronauts will also receive a set of core muscle training devices designed to help counteract muscle atrophy in microgravity.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Tiangong astronauts experiment with AI robot and more to kick off busy year for Chinese human spaceflight (video)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. China is planning to send two new crews to its Tiangong space station in another busy year of human spaceflight. China's human spaceflight agency, CMSA, announced in early March that the country is planning to launch two crewed missions this year — Shenzhou 20 and Shenzhou 21 — along with a single Tianzhou cargo spacecraft to deliver fresh supplies and fuel to the Tiangong space station. The three-module Tiangong was completed in late 2022 and has been constantly occupied ever since, with three-person crews spending roughly six months in orbit before handing over to a new crew. China also recently announced that it will train astronauts from Pakistan ahead of a short-term mission to Tiangong in the coming years. Meanwhile in orbit, the Shenzhou 19 crew currently aboard Tiangong have been busy with a range of experiments and exercises. New footage from the orbiting outpost shows the trio of astronauts engaged in a range of activities. Related: Smart robot helps out astronauts on China's Tiangong space station (video) The three astronauts — commander Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze — used electroencephalogram (EEG) equipment for a number of experiments. Data collected will help researchers back on Earth gain insights in areas including the impact of gravity on visual motion processing and the effects of brainwave music intervention on regulating inhibitory control functions during long-duration spaceflights, according to China Central Television (CCTV). Wang Haoze, China's first female flight engineer in space, is seen using resistance bands as part of the exercise regimen designed to limit bone and muscle loss while in microgravity. The trio also used the small AI flight robot "Xiao Hang" to conduct a series of experiments, including research on multimodal interaction technology, which aims to create natural, intuitive and efficient ways for humans to communicate with machines. RELATED STORIES: — China's space station, Tiangong: A complete guide — China reveals reusable cargo shuttle design for Tiangong space station (video) — China wants to make its Tiangong space station bigger and better The Shenzhou 19 astronauts arrived at Tiangong in late October 2024 and are more than 130 days into their roughly 180-day-long stay aboard the space station. The mission has included a pair of extravehicular activities, or spacewalks, including a record-breaking excursion outside of the space station. CMSA has not yet announced a launch date for Shenzhou 20, which will see a handover of control of Tiangong from Shenzhou 19 to the incoming crew.
