4.06.2023
Watch China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts return to Earth tonight in this free livestream
The mission is expected to land around 6:30 p.m. ET tonight (June 3).
Three astronauts are all set to return to Earth after half a year aboard China's space station.
Shenzhou 15 mission commander Fei Junlong and crewmates Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu have been aboard the Tiangong space station since November last year.
With their work complete, the Shenzhou 15 astronauts will now prepare for the journey home. Chinese state media report that the crew will return home on Sunday (June 4) Beijing time. Airspace closure notices indicate that Shenzhou 15 will land around 6:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday (June 3; 2230 GMT, or 6:30 a.m. Beijing time on June 4). You can watch the landing live on Space.com, courtesy of CCTV, starting at 5:15 p.m. EDT (2115 GMT).
"We have completed the in-orbit mission of Shenzhou 15. Now I hand over the keys to the space station, as arranged," Fei said, Chinese broadcaster CCTV reported.
"On behalf of the Shenzhou 16 mission crew and after a thorough inspection and review, I have confirmed that there is no problem and will sign," said Shenzhou 16 commander Jing Haipeng.
The Shenzhou 15 trio welcomed the incoming Shenzhou 16 crew to Tiangong on Monday (May 29), and on Friday (June 2) all six astronauts participated in a ceremony to hand over control of the space station to the newcomers.
The return capsule will touch down within the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, close to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, from which the crew launched six months ago.
Teams on the ground completed rescue and recovery drills at Dongfeng on Thursday (June 1) in preparation for the return to Earth, Chinese media reported.
The Shenzhou 15 crew embarked on four spacewalks during their time aboard Tiangong, marking a national record. They also conducted a range of science experiments and outreach activities.
Quelle: SC
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China's Shenzhou-15 astronauts to return to Earth on June 4
China's Shenzhou-15 astronauts will return to Earth on June 4, having completed all their scheduled tasks, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said Friday.
The three astronauts handed over the control of the space station to the Shenzhou-16 crew on Friday, completing the country's second in-orbit crew rotation, according to the CMSA.
They will touch down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The landing site has completed the preparations for the return of the three astronauts, the CMSA said.
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 5.06.2023
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Watch China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts return to Earth this weekend (video)
The mission is expected to land around 6:30 p.m. ET tonight (June 3).
Three Chinese astronauts are safely back on Earth after a smooth weekend landing to end a six-month mission to the country's Tiangong space station.
Shenzhou 15 mission commander Fei Junlong and crewmates Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu returned to Earth at 6:34 a.m. Beijing Time on Sunday, June 4 (6:34 p.m. EDT or 2234 GMTon June 3) as the sun rose over their Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. They had been aboard the Tiangong space station since November last year.
"We are feeling good," Fei told CCTV reporters just after recovery teams helped him out of the Shenzhou 15 capsule after landing.
The Shenzhou 15 spacecraft landed on its side, but recovery crews were on hand quickly to right the ship and extract its crew.(Image credit: CCTV)
Earlier this week, Fei and his crewmates handed control of the space sttion over tor their relief crew flying China's Shenzhou 16 mission.
"We have completed the in-orbit mission of Shenzhou 15. Now I hand over the keys to the space station, as arranged," Fei said, Chinese broadcaster CCTV reported.
"On behalf of the Shenzhou 16 mission crew and after a thorough inspection and review, I have confirmed that there is no problem and will sign," said Shenzhou 16 commander Jing Haipeng.
The Shenzhou 15 trio welcomed the incoming Shenzhou 16 crew to Tiangong on Monday (May 29), and on Friday (June 2) all six astronauts participated in a ceremony to hand over control of the space station to the newcomers.
The return capsule touched down within the Dongfeng landing site, close to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, from which the crew launched six months ago.
Teams on the ground completed rescue and recovery drills at Dongfeng on Thursday (June 1) in preparation for the return to Earth, Chinese media reported. After the spacecraft landed, those teams were on site within a few minutes to right the capsule from its side landing and begin extracting the crew. All three astronauts were safely out of the capsule in less than an hour.
The Shenzhou 15 crew embarked on four spacewalks during their time aboard Tiangong, marking a national record. They also conducted a range of science experiments and outreach activities.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include the results of the successful landing of the Shenzhou 15 crew at 7 p.m. EDT.
Quelle: SC
The return capsule of the Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship touches down safely at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region June 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 6.06.2023
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Scientific experimental samples brought back to Earth, delivered to scientists
A new batch of scientific experiment samples has been brought back to Earth with the return capsule of China's Shenzhou-15 manned spaceship from China's space station Tiangong, the Science and Technology Daily reported Monday.
The samples have been delivered to the scientists of the space application system for subsequent research and studies.
The space application system, along with the return capsule of the Shenzhou-15 spaceship, sent back the experimental samples of a total of 15 scientific projects, according to the report.
The samples, weighing more than 20 kilograms, will be used in life experiments and material experiments.
The scientists will conduct molecular biology, cell biology, in-orbit growth and metabolism analyses on the samples in life experiments.
The samples of the material experiments will be tested and analyzed in the laboratory to study the physical properties and chemical changes of the materials that are difficult to know in the ground gravity environment.
Shenzhou-15's return capsule touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 6:33 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Sunday.
Quelle: Xinhua
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Update: 17.06.2023
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See latest configuration of China's Tiangong space station in stunning new video
The video shows Tiangong in its new configuration, after many spacecraft comings and goings.
A video released on June 14, 2023 shows the latest configuration of China's Tiangong space station. (Image credit: CCTV)
China's space station is a busy place these days.
New footage released by China's human spaceflight agency shows the Tiangong space station in its new configuration following a series of arrivals to and departures from the orbital outpost.
The Tianzhou 5 cargo spacecraft undocked from Tiangong on May 5, freeing up a docking port for the next supply mission. The Tianzhou 6 cargo spacecraft — packed with supplies, scientific experiments and propellant — then launched for Tiangong on May 11. The mission was a precursor to the arrival of the station's next inhabitants.
China launched the Shenzhou 16 crewed mission on May 30, sending three new astronauts, including the country's first civilian, to Tiangong for a five-month-long mission. They took over control of the space station from the Shenzhou 15 crew, who then returned to Earth on June 4.
Finally, Tianzhou 5 completed its free flying mission and docked with Tiangong once more on June 5. The freighter will be filled with waste from Tiangong before being deorbited at a later time.
The newly released video shows the Shenzhou 16 spacecraft docked at the radial port of the docking hub of the space station's Tianhe core module. The cargo airlock hatch of the Mengtian lab module can be seen through the panoramic camera outside Mengtian.
The Shenzhou 16 crew, consisting of commander Jing Haipeng and crewmates Zhu Yangzhu and payload specialist Gui Haichao — China's first civilian in space — are set to carry out a range of tasks during their time aboard Tiangong. They will complete the installation of large extravehicular application facilities, including a radiation biological exposure experiment payload, and other components and apparatus for experiments to be installed on the exterior of the Mengtian module.
The trio are also scheduled to study novel quantum phenomena and conduct experiments related to the verification of general relativity and the origins of life. They will also deliver a live science class as part of planned outreach activities.
The Shenzhou 16 astronauts are the fifth crew to visit Tiangong, and the second since the completion of the three-module outpost in November 2022.
Quelle: SC
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Update: 22.07.2023
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Shenzhou-16 crew completes first spacewalk
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronaut Zhu Yangzhu performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely.
During the extravehicular activities lasting about eight hours, they completed several tasks, including the installation and lifting of the support frame for a panoramic camera outside the Tianhe core module, and unlocking and lifting of two panoramic cameras outside the Mengtian lab module.
This was the first time for Jing, who is on his fourth spaceflight, to perform a spacewalk. Zhu has become China's first flight engineer to take part in extravehicular activities.
The Shenzhou-16 crew, as planned, will carry out a large number of space science experiments and complete multiple extravehicular installation tasks of application loads in the future.
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronaut Jing Haipeng performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronaut Jing Haipeng waving after finishing extravehicular activities.
The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronauts Jing Haipeng (L) and Zhu Yangzhu preparing to exit the Wentian lab module. The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronauts Jing Haipeng (above) and Zhu Yangzhu performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronaut Zhu Yangzhu waving after exiting the Wentian lab module. The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronaut Jing Haipeng waving after exiting the Wentian lab module. The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on July 20, 2023 shows Shenzhou-16 astronauts Jing Haipeng (R) and Zhu Yangzhu returning to the Wentian lab module after finishing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-16 crew members on board China's orbiting space station completed their first spacewalk at 9:40 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Thursday, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao collaborated to pull off all set tasks with the assistance of the space station's robotic arm. Jing and Zhu have since returned to the Wentian lab module safely. (Xinhua/Guo Zhongzheng)
Quelle: Xinhua