All articles tagged with #chinese astronauts
The Chinese crew of Shenzhou-20, originally set to return to Earth, is stranded in orbit due to a suspected impact from untracked space debris, highlighting growing concerns over space debris risks and the safety protocols in place for human spaceflight. The delay allows for inspection and safety measures, with the crew continuing their mission aboard the Tiangong station.
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station have successfully used a new oven to cook chicken wings, marking China's first space BBQ and demonstrating advanced microgravity cooking technology that provides comfort and psychological well-being for crew members.
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station conducted a 6.5-hour spacewalk to enhance debris shielding and perform maintenance, marking their third extravehicular activity during a six-month mission focused on station upkeep and scientific experiments.
Chinese astronauts Ye Guangfu and Li Guangsu set a national record with an 8.5-hour spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station, installing space-debris protection gear and inspecting equipment. This marks the first EVA for the Shenzhou 18 mission, which launched in late April and is expected to conduct numerous scientific and technical activities.
Chinese astronauts Jiang Xinlin and Tang Hongbo conducted an eight-hour spacewalk to repair the solar array of China's Tiangong space station during the ongoing Shenzhou 17 mission. The mission's main objective was to maintain the solar array of Tiangong's Tianhe core module, which can be impacted by micrometeoroids. The astronauts successfully completed the extravehicular activity, with Jiang Xinlin demonstrating composure and calm during his first time engaging in such activities. The Shenzhou 17 crew is expected to complete a six-month mission aboard Tiangong and hand over the station to the incoming Shenzhou 18 crew around April or May.
Chinese astronauts Tang Hongbo and Jiang Xinlin conducted an 8-hour spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station to repair the facility's solar array, marking the second extravehicular activity of the Shenzhou 17 mission. The astronauts successfully completed maintenance tasks and confirmed normal power generation before returning to the station. The mission, which launched in late October 2023, aims to complete a six-month-long stay aboard Tiangong before handing over the station to the incoming Shenzhou 18 crew in April or May.
Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station were seen giving each other haircuts using a vacuum-based haircutting device. The device prevents loose hairs from floating around the station and causing issues with its equipment. Similar to the system used on the International Space Station, the vacuum attachment on special clippers collects the hair clippings to prevent them from floating freely.
Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou 16 mission have successfully harvested fresh vegetables, including lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and green onions, in the Tiangong space station as part of China's ambitious space program. The cultivation apparatus used in space is a key component of the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) and has implications for future deep space exploration, including crewed lunar and Mars missions. China aims to put astronauts on the moon before 2030 and plans to build a moon base, while a crewed Mars landing is also on the horizon.
Chinese astronauts conducted a livestreamed fire experiment aboard the Tiangong space station, defying accepted safety protocols. The experiment showed that flames in the microgravity environment of low Earth orbit appear nearly spherical, unlike the teardrop shape seen on Earth due to buoyancy-driven convection. This experiment is unlikely to be replicated on the International Space Station due to strict fire safety rules implemented after a fire incident on the Russian space station Mir in 1997. The incident changed how space agencies approach fire safety in space.