China launched a spacecraft today (17th) carrying three astronauts on a mission to begin constructing its maiden space station.
The Shenzhou-12 or “divine vessel” spacecraft left the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China’s northwestern Gobi Desert at about 9:22 a.m. Beijing time, state broadcaster CCTV reported. It is to rendezvous with the core capsule of the space station, which was launched in April.
The manned mission, China’s seventh since 2003, is scheduled to last three months. During that time the three male crew members will walk in space, test equipment and maintain the nascent structure to lay the foundation for longer stays of up to six months, the China Manned Space Agency said on Wednesday.
This is the third of 11 missions planned for the construction of the 90-metric-ton T-shaped space station called Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace. China last month sent an unmanned cargo ship to dock with the core capsule.
Upon completion, expected next year, Tiangong will be the second space station in orbit — along with the NASA-led but multinational International Space Station, which is nearing the end of its working life.
Since 2011, China has been shut out of the International Space Station by the U.S., over concerns about technology transfers. Beijing has made space exploration a priority, as part of its broader ambition to achieve self-reliance in science and innovation.
The Tiangong project is expected to give China a continuous presence in orbit for years to come. Tiangong itself will have an operational life span of 15 years. Beijing says it is open to international cooperation and willing to host foreign astronauts on joint missions.
Thursday’s crewed mission is led by Nie Haisheng, a veteran of two prior space trips. He is being assisted by Liu Boming, also an experienced astronaut with one previous flight, and Tang Hongbo, who is on his first mission. All three are attached to the People’s Liberation Army’s astronaut team.
Source: ‘NIKKEI Asia’
