183 days! Tracing the flight footprints of the Shenzhou 14 crew

At 20:09 on December 4, 2022, the return capsule of the Shenzhou XIV manned spacecraft successfully landed at the Dongfeng landing site, and the flight mission was a complete success. From the scorching summer to the cold winter, the Shenzhou XIV astronaut crew successfully completed all the established tasks and created many "firsts". Let us trace the footprints of Shenzhou XIV and review the six-month space journey of the "busiest crew".

Set off to the sky with firm steps

At 7:54 am on June 5, 2022, the departure ceremony for the astronaut crew of the Shenzhou 14 manned flight mission was held at the Wentian Pavilion Square of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe received the orders to set off.

At 10:44, the Shenzhou XIV manned spacecraft was successfully launched, sending three astronauts into space.

Successfully docked and settled in the "Tiangong"

At 17:42 on June 5, the Shenzhou XIV manned spacecraft successfully docked at the radial port of the Tianhe core module. The entire docking process lasted about 7 hours.

At 20:50, the Shenzhou 14 crew successfully moved into the Tianhe core module and became the new owners of the "space home".

Establishing a manned environment and organizing the "space home"

In order to start work and normal life as soon as possible, the crew quickly set up the on-orbit environment, carried out microbial sampling, installation, debugging and maintenance of various equipment, and successively entered the Tianzhou-4 and Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft to sort and transfer materials to create a comfortable and livable space home.

Ask the sky and welcome the new home

On July 24, the space station's Wentian experiment module was successfully launched, and the Shenzhou 14 crew watched the entire launch process in orbit.

On July 25, Commander Chen Dong opened the hatch of the Wentian laboratory module, and the crew successfully entered the Wentian laboratory module. This is the first time that Chinese astronauts have entered a scientific laboratory module in orbit.

Three extravehicular activities, setting a new record

This mission set a new record of three extravehicular activities in one mission. On September 2, the Shenzhou XIV crew completed the first extravehicular activity from the airlock of the Wentian Experimental Module, assisted by a small robotic arm, and verified for the first time the main path of the Wentian Experimental Module's autonomous extravehicular transfer.

On September 17, the crew went out of the cabin again after half a month and completed tasks such as installation of extravehicular facilities and equipment and verification of extravehicular rescue. The vast universe and the crew witnessed the rapid development of the Chinese space station.

On November 17, the crew successfully completed its third extravehicular activity. During the extravehicular activity, the astronauts built a "sky bridge" for extravehicular walking between the three cabins, and for the first time tested the ability to work in coordination with the combined robotic arm. This was the first extravehicular activity after the assembly of the "T" basic configuration of the space station was completed.

Teaching in space, asking questions from the sky

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On October 12, the third lesson of the "Tiangong Classroom" was taught for the first time in the "new classroom" Wentian Laboratory. Three new "space teachers" introduced and demonstrated the work and life scenes in the laboratory and a series of interesting scientific experimental phenomena and principles in the microgravity environment, presenting another wonderful space science class for young people.

Experiments and training continue

During the mission, the Shenzhou 14 crew carried out a large number of space station platform inspection and testing, equipment maintenance, repair verification, material management and station management tasks, unlocked and installed multiple experimental cabinets in two experimental modules, and implemented a number of space science experiments and technical tests as planned.

In addition to daily physical exercise, they also regularly conduct various professional and technical trainings such as robotic arm operation, extravehicular activity operation, rendezvous and docking operation, emergency rescue, medical skills, etc. They are well-deserved to be called the "busiest crew".

Three cabins in one "T" witness history

After the Mengtian laboratory module was successfully launched and smoothly completed its transfer, on November 3, the Shenzhou 14 crew successfully entered the Mengtian laboratory module, ushering in the era of "three-bedroom" in space for the Chinese.

During the mission, the crew cooperated with the ground to complete the assembly and construction of the basic "T" configuration of the space station, experienced 9 combination configurations, 5 rendezvous and docking, 2 separation and evacuation, and 2 transfer missions, and witnessed many historical moments of China's manned space flight.

Victory in space "meeting" and stage "Six-man team"

In the past six months, the crew of Shenzhou 14 has not only witnessed history, but also created history. Chen Dong became the first Chinese astronaut to stay in orbit for more than 200 days.

On November 30, the long-awaited Shenzhou XIV astronaut crew successfully opened the "door of home" and warmly welcomed their relatives from afar to settle in the "Tiangong". The two astronaut crews who "successfully joined forces" left a space photo that will go down in history in the Chinese people's own "space home".

Dedicated to their duties, return with honor

After completing the handover with the Shenzhou 15 crew, the return capsule of the Shenzhou 14 crew landed successfully on December 4, and the three astronauts returned safely and with full glory amid the expectations of the public. The flight mission is over, but new missions and challenges have just begun.

Congratulations to the Shenzhou 14 crew for successfully completing their mission

China's space station is always worth looking forward to!