Shenzhou XIV astronauts Chen Dong, center, Liu Yang, right, and Cai Xuzhe meet with reporters at Wentiange, the astronauts' apartment compound at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China on June 4, 2022. (WANG JIANGBO / CHINA DAILY)
The Shenzhou XIV mission – China's ninth manned spaceflight – is scheduled for launch on Sunday morning from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gobi Desert, according to a senior mission official.
Lin Xiqiang, deputy head of the China Manned Space Agency, said at a news conference inside the Jiuquan center Saturday morning the three crew members – Senior Colonel Chen Dong, Senior Colonel Liu Yang and Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe – will be sent to the Tiangong space station and stay there for half a year to continue the assembly of the colossal station.
The Long March 2F carrier rocket lifting the Shenzhou XIV spacecraft will blast off at 10:44 am, said Lin Xiqiang, deputy head of the China Manned Space Agency
The Long March 2F carrier rocket lifting the Shenzhou XIV spacecraft will blast off at 10:44 am, he said.
Chen will be mission commander. All crew members are from the second generation of the country's astronauts.
After entering orbit, the spaceship will adopt fast automated rendezvous and docking with the radial port of the space station core module Tianhe, forming a complex with Tianhe as well as the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 3 and Tianzhou 4, said Lin.
At present, the complex of Tianhe, Tianzhou 3 and Tianzhou 4 works in normal condition and is ready for rendezvous, docking and the astronauts' entry, Lin said.
Shenzhou XIV astronauts Chen Dong, center, Liu Yang, right, and Cai Xuzhe meet with reporters at Wentiange, the astronauts' apartment compound at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China on June 4, 2022. (WANG JIANGBO / CHINA DAILY)
The quality of both the Shenzhou XIV spaceship and the Long March-2F carrier rocket has been well checked. The crew is in good condition, and the ground system facilities are in stable operation, Lin said.
All preparations for the launch have been basically completed, Lin said.
Before them the Shenzhou XII and XIII three-member crews lived inside the Tiangong, which is traveling in low-Earth orbit about 400 kilometers high. The Shenzhou XIII crew returned in mid-April.
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The combination of the Shenzhou XIV manned spaceship and a Long March 2F carrier rocket is seen being transferred to the launch site at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu province, on May 29, 2022. (WANG JIANGBO / PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
In early May, the Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft was launched by a Long March 7 rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, transporting nearly 6 metric tons of propellants and materials to Tiangong.
The quality of both the Shenzhou XIV spaceship and the Long March-2F carrier rocket has been well checked. The crew is in good condition, and the ground system facilities are in stable operation, Lin said
Tiangong consists of the Tianhe core module, the Tianzhou 3 and the Tianzhou 4.
In July, the station's first lab component – Wentian, or Quest for the Heavens – will be launched, while the second lab named Mengtian, or Dreaming of the Heavens, will be sent to dock with the station in October. After they are connected with the Tiangong, the station will form a T-shaped structure.
After the space labs, the Tianzhou 5 cargo craft and the Shenzhou XV crew are scheduled to arrive at the massive orbiting outpost around the end of the year, according to mission officials.
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The Tiangong is expected to operate for up to 15 years and will serve as a scientific platform, space officials have said, noting it will also be open to foreign astronauts.
Shenzhou XIV astronauts
Chen Dong
Senior Colonel Chen Dong, 43, a native of Henan province, joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force in August 1997. He served as squadron commander of a fighter jet regiment until May 2010, when he was recruited by the PLA Astronaut Division as one of the unit's second-generation astronauts.
In October 2016, Chen took part in the 33-day Shenzhou XI mission.
In December 2019, Chen was selected for the Shenzhou XIV mission. He was a member of the backup crew for the Shenzhou XIII mission.
Liu Yang
Senior Colonel Liu Yang, 43, a native of Henan province, joined the PLA Air Force in August 1997. She was deputy squadron commander of a transport aircraft unit before joining the second group of the PLA Astronaut Division in May 2010.
Liu took part in the Shenzhou IX mission that lasted nearly 13 days in June 2012, becoming the first Chinese woman in outer space.
In December 2019, Liu was selected for the Shenzhou XIV mission. She was a member of the backup crew for the Shenzhou XIII mission.
She is vice-president of the All-China Women‘s Federation.
Cai Xuzhe
Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe, 46, is a native of Hebei province. He became a member of the PLA Air Force in September 1995 and was commander of a fighter jet unit.
Cai was selected as one of the PLA Astronaut Division's second-generation astronauts in May 2010.
In December 2019, he was selected for the Shenzhou XIV mission and was a member of the backup crew for the Shenzhou XIII mission.
With Xinhua inputs