posted 04-24-2024 11:34 PM               

China to launch Shenzhou-18 crewed space mission

The Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 8:59 p.m. Thursday, April 25 (Beijing Time) [8:59 a.m. EDT or 1459 GMT] from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, announced the China Manned Space Agency on Wednesday.

The spaceship will carry three astronauts — Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu — to carry out the Shenzhou-18 spaceflight mission, and Ye will be the commander, said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA, at a press conference.

Above: Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu (at center), Li Cong (at right) and Li Guangsu will carry out the Shenzhou-18 mission, with Ye as the commander. (Xinhua)

Shenzhou-18 is the 32nd flight mission of China's manned space program, and the third manned mission during the application and development stage of China's space station.

The crew will stay in orbit for about six months, and they are scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in late October this year.

The launch will use a Long March-2F carrier rocket, Lin said.

The Shenzhou-17 crew is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site on April 30 after completing the in-orbit work handover to the Shenzhou-18 crew, Lin added.

posted 04-25-2024 08:07 AM               

China launches Shenzhou-18 crew for six-month stay on Tiangong space station

China has launched a new mission to its space station, including three taikonauts and a school of aquatic "crewmates."

Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu lifted off on China's Shenzhou-18 spacecraft on Thursday (April 25), together with a group of zebrafish as part of their country's first in-orbit underwater research project. The crew rode atop a Long March-2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 8:59 a.m. EDT (1259 GMT or 8:59 p.m. Beijing Time).

posted 04-25-2024 10:11 PM               

Shenzhou-18 docks, astronauts enter space station

The three astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou-18 spaceship have entered the country's space station and met with another astronaut trio on Friday (April 26), starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover.

The Shenzhou-17 crew opened the hatch at 5:04 a.m. Beijing Time (5:04 p.m. EDT or 2104 GMT on April 25). The three space station occupants greeted the new arrivals, and they took group pictures.

The space get-together of the two crews kicked off the fourth in-orbit crew rotation in China's space station.

According to the China Manned Space Agency, the six astronauts will live and work together for about five days to complete planned tasks and handover work.

The Shenzhou 18 spacecraft docked with the radial port of the space station's core module Tianhe at 3:32 a.m. Beijing Time (3:32 p.m. EDT or 1932 GMT on April 25), approximately 6.5 hours after launch.

posted 05-28-2024 11:42 AM               

Shenzhou-18 crew members complete spacewalk

Shenzhou-18 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed the first spacewalk of their mission at 6:58 p.m. Beijing Time on Tuesday, May 28 [6:58 a.m. EDT or 1058 GMT], according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu worked for about eight-and-a-half hours in completing multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices, and were assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth.

The task has set a new record for the longest single spacewalk by Chinese astronauts.

Ye and Li Guangsu, the two crew members assigned the spacewalk duty, have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.

This marked Ye's second extravehicular activity (EVA), following his initial spacewalk during the Shenzhou-13 mission, while Li Guangsu embarked on a spacewalk for the first time.

The mission will involve numerous other tasks, with the Shenzhou-18 crew set to engage in a slew of scheduled space science experiments and technical tests, while they will also undertake additional extravehicular activities and install payloads outside the space station, according to the CMSA.

posted 11-03-2024 09:22 AM               

Shenzhou-18 separates from space station

China's Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship separated from the Tiangong space station on Sunday 9Nov. 3). Astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu are returning to Earth.

The undocking occurred at 16:12 Beijing Time (3:12 a.m. EST or 0812 GMT), according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Prior to the separation, the Shenzhou-18 crew, with the assistance of the ground staff, completed various tasks such as setting the status of the space station combination, processing and transmitting the experimental data and transferring remaining supplies, as well as carried out handover work with the Shenzhou-19 crew.

posted 11-03-2024 12:44 PM               

Shenzhou-18 crew safely land in north China

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship, carrying astronauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China on Sunday (Nov. 3).

The landing occurred at about 12:24 p.m. EST (1724 GMT or 12:24 a.m. on Nov. 4 Beijing time).

The three astronauts were all in good health condition, according to the China Manned Space Agency.