China will introduce the Shenzhou-20 crewed objective to its space station at 5:17 p.m.
on April 24 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) revealed on Wednesday.Click here for the livestream of journalism conference.After going into orbit, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft will perform automated rendezvous and docking with the radial port of the Tianhe core module approximately 6.5 hours later, forming a mix of three spacecraft and three modules.
The Shenzhou-20 objective marks the fifth crewed flight throughout the application and advancement stage of the China Space Station, and the 35th flight of the countrys crewed space program in general.
The main objectives are to finish an in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-19 crew, remain aboard the space station for about 6 months, conduct space science and application experiments, perform spacewalks and cargo transfer tasks, and perform the installation of debris security devices, in addition to the installation and retrieval of external payloads and equipment.During their remain in orbit, the Shenzhou-20 team will receive the Tianzhou-9 freight spacecraft and the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft.
The Shenzhou-20 crew is arranged to return to Earth in late October this year.After finishing the in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-20 team, the Shenzhou-19 astronauts are set up to return to the Dongfeng landing website on April 29, according to the CMSA.Meet the new crewChinese astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie will perform the Shenzhou-20 crewed mission.Astronaut Chen Dong has actually previously participated in Shenzhou-11 and Shenzhou-14 manned spaceflight missions.
2 years after the Shenzhou-14 objective, he is set to work as the commander again.Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, amongst the 3rd batch of Chinese astronauts, will belong to a spaceflight objective for the first time.
Chen Zhongrui worked as an air force pilot before being picked as an astronaut, and Wang Jie previously functioned as an engineer at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.Three brand-new life science experiments in space stationThe brand-new life science experiments at the China Space Station throughout the Shenzhou-20 crewed mission will include zebrafish, planarians and streptomyces, the CMSA told the press.
The team will conduct 59 experiments and technical presentations in areas such as area life sciences, microgravity physical sciences, and brand-new area technologies.China Space Station to invite more visitorsCMSA announced strategies of welcoming new visitors at the press conference.
The first astronauts from Hong Kong and Macao unique administrative areas, chosen as payload professionals, are on track to make their inaugural spaceflight as early as 2026.
Two Pakistani astronauts will be chosen to get spaceflight training in China, and one of them will have the opportunity to get involved in a joint space mission as a payload expert.(Cover: The mix of the crewed spaceship and its provider rocket for the Shenzhou-20 mission is transferred to the launch website at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, April 16, 2025./ VCG)