There is a mysterious number about China's space station: 6, 6, 6, 6

Zhang Bainan, deputy to the National People's Congress, deputy chief designer of China's manned space program, and chief designer of the optical cabin system of the space station of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, revealed yesterday that in 2022, my country's manned space station project will enter the space station construction phase, and will complete six major missions including the Wentian laboratory module, the Mengtian laboratory module, the Shenzhou manned spacecraft and the Tianzhou cargo spacecraft. The space station will be fully built, and the first flight of a combination of six spacecraft will be realized, the first astronauts' stay will reach six months, and the first time that two crews of six astronauts will be in orbit at the same time.

An image of China's space station in orbit.

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Schematic diagram of the structure and dimensions of the core module of China's space station.

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my country's manned space program was officially approved by the central government on September 21, 1992. The manned spacecraft system, cargo spacecraft system, space laboratory system, space station system, and optical cabin system in the manned space program are all developed by the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The space station mission planning includes three stages: key technology verification, construction, and operation.

Zhang Zhongyang, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and general manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said that in 2021, the key technology verification phase of my country's space station was basically completed, and five launch missions were successfully completed. The Tianhe core module was successfully launched, and the on-orbit assembly and construction of the space station was fully launched. The Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft was launched into orbit, and for the first time, it used a rapid rendezvous and docking method to dock with the Tianhe core module, completing the transportation of extravehicular space suits and astronaut consumables. The Shenzhou-12 flight mission enabled the first batch of astronauts, Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo, to enter the space station and return safely. The Tianzhou-3 cargo spacecraft was launched into orbit, completing the transportation of materials for subsequent astronaut crews. Shenzhou-13 achieved the first radial rendezvous and docking of a manned spacecraft, and the second batch of astronauts, Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu, entered the space station for a long-term stay of 6 months.

"It is expected that the Shenzhou 13 astronaut crew will return in April this year after a six-month stay. After that, our country will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the verification of key technologies of the space station. If the results meet the requirements, it will enter the construction phase." Zhang Bainan told reporters that during the construction phase, my country will successively launch six spacecraft, namely Tianzhou 4, Shenzhou 14, Wentian Laboratory, Mengtian Laboratory, Tianzhou 5 and Shenzhou 15, to complete the rendezvous and docking and transfer of the Wentian Laboratory, Mengtian Laboratory and the core module in a manned state, and finally complete the construction of the T-configuration space station; after the construction is completed, the functional performance will be tested in orbit, and then the country will enter the operation phase.

He also revealed that in 2022, the manned spacecraft will return as planned, two ships will rendezvous and dock, and three ships will be on standby for emergency rescue, involving four Shenzhou spacecraft from Shenzhou 13 to Shenzhou 16. At the same time, ground development work for Shenzhou 17 and Shenzhou 18 will also be carried out in parallel.

Reporter Qiu Chenhui

Source: China Youth Daily

Original title: "China's space station will be fully completed this year, with six astronauts in orbit at the same time for the first time"