An Overview of Shenzhou-16 Mission

Image source: Indian Express

The Shenzhou-16, launched using a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre situated in northwest China.

• The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) officially declared the launch as a complete success.
• Roughly 10 minutes post-launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its planned orbit.

The First Civilian Astronaut in Space

• This mission marked a significant milestone as China included a civilian, Gui Haichao, a professor at Beihang University, among the three astronauts for the first time.
• Gui, considered as a payload specialist, would partake in scientific experiments at the space station.

Shenzhou-16 Astronauts and Key Mission Details

The commander of the mission is Jing Haipeng, who is carving out history as the first Chinese astronaut to undertake a record fourth space journey.

• The flight engineer of the astronaut team is Zhu Yangzhu, who is embarking on his first space voyage.
• The crew is scheduled to dock with China’s Tiangong space station’s Tianhe core module, positioned approximately 400 km above the earth, in less than seven hours.
• They are expected to stay in orbit for about five months, during which they will conduct several tests and experiments.

China's Unique Space Station and Future Aspirations

• China is working towards becoming the sole nation to have its own space station as the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to retire by 2030.
• China's space station boasts of two robotic arms, with the longer one having the capability to seize objects from space, such as satellites.
• The station is set for further expansion, with more modules planned to be added to form a cross-shaped structure.
• China has also planned to launch a large space telescope named Xuntian by late 2023, which will offer a field of view 350 times wider than the Hubble Space Telescope.

Conclusion

• The successful launch of the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft, ferrying three astronauts to its space station, underscores China's advancements in space exploration.
• The inclusion of a civilian astronaut and the nation's ambitious plans for a permanent space base and advanced telescopes underscore its commitment to pushing the limits of space research and technology.