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China's Shenzhou-10 mission successful
Last Updated: 2013-06-26 10:51 | Xinhua
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Astronauts Zhang Xiaoguang, Nie Haisheng and Wang Yaping (from left to right) wave after getting out of the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft following its successful landing at the main landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 26, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

 

In pictures: Shenzhou-10 spacecraft returns to earth2013

 

Astronaut Nie sets Chinese space stay record

 

Three astronauts who completed China's longest manned space mission returned to Earth safely Wednesday morning, marking another step towards the country's goal of building a permanent manned space station by 2020.

Zhang Youxia, commander-in-chief of China's manned space program, said the Shenzhou-10 mission was a "complete success". >> More

The reentry capsule of Shenzhou-10 landed safely in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 8:07 a.m.. All three astronauts were in good physical condition. >> More

Nie Haisheng, commander of the Shenzhou-10 crew and a second-time space traveler, was the first to emerge out of the module, followed by Wang Yaping, the only female astronaut of the mission, and Zhang Xiaoguang. >> More

During a brief welcoming ceremony held at the landing area, the astronauts waved to a crowd composed of military officers, the search and recovery team, and health personnel.

"It feels really good to be back home," said Nie.

"We are dreamers, and we have now fulfilled our dream," said Zhang. "Our space dream knows no boundary, and our hard work will never cease," he said.

Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli was at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center and watched the live broadcast of the return.

"The complete success of the Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-10 mission has further consolidated China's space rendezvous and docking expertise and marked a great success in achieving the second-phase target of the nation's manned space program," Zhang Gaoli said in a congratulatory letter read on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council and the Central Military Commission. >>More

NEW SPACE LAB, NEW ROCKETS

China will continue to carry out development and construction of a space laboratory and plans to launch Tiangong-2 space lab around 2015, an aerospace official told a press conference Wednesday. >> More

Wang Zhaoyao, director of China's manned space program office, said the country plans to put in orbit an experimental core module of a space station around 2018 and complete the construction of a manned space station by 2020.

Prior to 2020, China will launch a series of cargo and manned spacecraft to deliver material supplies and transport astronauts to the future space lab and space station, according to Wang.

China will use new generation rockets with larger carrying capacities,said Yuan Jie, deputy general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., at the press conference. >> More

The Long March 5 carrier rocket will be used for the launching of the manned space station, and Long March 7 for carrying the cargo spacecraft for the station.

The new generation rockets will use new technologies. For example, new engines with non-toxic and non-polluting liquefied propellent will be used,which are safer and more environment friendly, according to Yuan.

The two types of rockets, both of which are under development, will be launched at a new launch site in south China's Hainan Province. >> More

According to Yuan, the maiden flight for both rockets will be completed before 2015.

MULTI-FACETED ACHIEVEMENT

Shenzhou-10 is China's first application-oriented space flight.

Wang Zhaoyao said at the press conference that the success of the mission laid a solid foundation for the future construction of China's manned space station.

Compared with its previous mission Shenzhou-9 last year, Shenzhou-10 is no longer experimental but considered an applicable shuttle system for transporting astronauts and supplies to orbiting modules.

The achievements of the Shenzhou-10 mission is multi-faceted.

According to Wang, China has made breakthroughs in mastering extravehicular activities as well as rendezvous and docking technologies.

Moreover, he said, the country has mastered the technologies of controlling and operating the assembled complex of spacecraft and target orbiter, and initially establishing and improving the system for astronauts to stay in orbit.

China has gained benefits in the following three aspects from a series of spacecraft missions, Wang said.

Technically, the country has accumulated a huge amount of experimental data and flight experience.

China also carried out scientific and technical experiments in such fields as space-earth remote sensing, space life science, material science as well as environment survey, Wang said.

The missions have also helped consolidate the basis of China's aerospace technology, elevate the overall capabilities of the nation's space industry, boosted the development of basic science and applied science, and fostered a team of aerospace experts, he added.

In its 15-day journey in space, Shenzhou-10 docked with the orbiting space lab Tiangong-1 twice, once through automatic operation and the other manually.

The astronauts spent 12 days in Tiangong-1, where they conducted space medical experiments, technical tests and delivered a lecture to students on Earth about basic physics principles.

The lecture, given by Wang Yaping aboard the space module, was a highlight of the mission.

It is estimated that more than 60 million students and teachers at about 80,000 middle schools across the country watched the live broadcast of the 40-minute space lecture on television.

During the lecture, Wang introduced the motion in micro-gravity environments and surface tension of liquid in space, with several demonstrations, and answered questions from the students.

The lecture was successful, and some media said that it inspired the hope and passion for science and space among the Chinese youth, Wang Zhaoyao told the press conference.

Rigzin Jigme Doje, a high school freshman in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, said he was most impressed by Wang Yaping's demonstration of the "water ball" that illustrated the surface tension of water in a micro-gravity environment.

He said the lecture had reinforced his dream of becoming a physicist.

The Shenzhou-10 mission was the first high-profile space mission after Xi Jinping took office as China's president in March this year.

On June 24, Xi made a video call to the astronauts, during which he said "the space dream is part of the dream to make China stronger."

"With the development of space programs, the Chinese people will take bigger strides to explore further into space," the president said.

China is the third country after the United States and Russia to acquire the technologies and skills necessary for space rendezvous and docking procedures, as well as supply manpower and materials for an orbiting module via different docking methods.

Previous docking procedures conducted between Shenzhou-type spacecraft and the orbiting space lab included two automated dockings by the unmanned Shenzhou-8 in 2011 and both an automated and manual docking by the manned Shenzhou-9 in 2012.

Tiangong-1 has been in orbit for more than 600 days. The module is considered the first step in building a permanent space station in the future.

Since its first manned space mission in 2003, China has sent ten astronauts and six spacecrafts into space.

 

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