The Chinese president called on the Tianhe space station module on Wednesday (June 23) to support the Shenzhou 12 astronauts for their primary mission.
President Xi Jinping called from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center to congratulate the three astronauts on a mission he described as a “major step” for China’s space efforts led by the China National Space Agency.
Shenzhou 12 is the first crewed mission to Tianhe, China’s planned 22.5-ton space station core module. which launched into low orbit on April 28..
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7;s 1st Space Station crew enter the Tianhe Module.Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo Arrived in Tianhe on June 17th., 6.5 hours after launch
“You are the first group of astronauts stationed in the Tianhe main module and will be on a three-month space mission. All Chinese people care about your life and work in space all the time,” Xi said during an Earth-space video call.
Asked about work, health and living conditions, Xi said, Commissioner Nie Haisheng said work was progressing as planned. Nie is now on his third space trip. Praising the working and life conditions aboard Tianhe, stating that “we Chinese astronauts now have a home in long-term orbit in space.”
Liu replied that the crew would perform two extra-vehicular activities or a series of space walks and technical tests, including the use of a large mechanical arm designed to help build the space station.
Tang on his first space mission It said he had adapted to harsh environments and was able to video chat with his family.
Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China and head of the People’s Liberation Army. said the Chinese space station “Will be a pioneer in contributing to the peaceful use of space by humanity.”
Shenzhou 12 is expected to be China’s longest crewed space mission so far. and was the first Shenzhou 11 in 2016
Related: latest news about China’s space program
Shenzhou 13 is preparing for launched in a short time to Tianhe in case of emergency The three-module Chinese space station is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
in a short time The call shows the strength of political support for China’s space activities. as well as national pride in the country’s high space achievements.
Xi had made a similar call to space before. in June 2013 He told the crew of Shenzhou 10. on the Tiangong Space Laboratory 1, “The dream of space is part of the dream to make China stronger. with the development of the space program The Chinese will continue to make more progress in space exploration.” Xi also earlier this year. find representative from Chang’e 5 Lunar Sample Return Mission
The call was made possible by the Tianlian broadcast satellite network in China. geostationary orbit, 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above the Earth’s equator These communication satellites are essential for maintaining constant contact with the Earth.
Through outboard activities or space walks, the Tianlian system will allow for group conversations between outer space astronauts within the station and the team returning to Earth.
NASA has satellite tracking and broadcasting (TDRS) network to perform similar functions. including facilitating communication with the International Space Station
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