On June 17, at 9:22 AM, the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 12 was launched from the Zhuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, China. Six and a half hours after launch, Shenzhou 12 succeeded in docking with the Chungong core module, a Chinese space station, and three astronauts started staying in the space station.
China, which has been excluded from the International Space Station project, is pursuing a plan to build its own space station, Cheongung. On April 29, 2021, Tianhe, a core module of the space station, was introduced, and on May 30, the unmanned cargo ship Tianzhou-2 successfully docked with Tianhe and delivered 4.69 tons of cargo.
Then, on June 17, the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 12 was finally launched through the launch vehicle Jangjeong 2 F. Shenzhou 12 is China’s first manned spacecraft launch since 2016. In 2016, the manned spacecraft Shenzhou 11 docked with the experimental module Cheongung 2 in orbit, and two astronauts performed a mission for 33 days.
Shenzhou 12 succeeded in docking with Tenhe, the core module, at 15:54, 6 hours and 30 minutes after launch. The astronauts performed some steps manually, but most of the steps were performed automatically by computerized pilots. It is known that the speed of the docking technology is effective for emergency astronaut evacuation by reducing the docking process from two days to several hours using autopilot.
Inside Tenhe, a large amount of luggage is loaded, and the walls are lined with monitors and storage spaces for various equipment. It is said to be equipped with three independent erosion facilities, shower facilities, and a gym. Tenhe is 16.6 m long and 4.2 m in diameter, but the inside is narrower. China is aiming for full operation of the Tiangung by the end of 2022, and the astronauts aboard Shenzhou 12 will wear the space suit sent by the Tianzhou 2 to perform activities, test the performance of the robot arm and check the life support system. do.
The astronauts who arrived in Tianhe via Shenzhou 12 will stay there for three months. China’s space station development is progressing rapidly against the background of the International Space Station exclusion. At the beginning of the mission, only Chinese astronauts will be conducted, but there is a policy to recruit astronauts from other countries in the future. Related information can be found here.