SHENZHOU-17 MISSION: A NEW ERA FOR CHINESE SPACE EXPLORATION

On October 26, 2023, the Shenzhou-17 manned spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. The mission, which is the 17th manned mission of the Chinese space program, is composed of three astronauts: Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin.

The Shenzhou-17 mission aims to carry out a series of scientific and technological experiments on the Tiangong space station. Astronauts will install new modules and equipment on the station, and conduct experiments in areas such as medicine, biology and physics.

Mission objectives

The specific objectives of the Shenzhou-17 mission are as follows:

Install the Tianhe-3 core module on the Tiangong space station.
Carry out a series of scientific and technological experiments at the station.
Prepare the space station for the arrival of the Shenzhou-18 mission, which is scheduled for next year.

Crew

The Shenzhou-17 mission crew is made up of the following astronauts:

Tang Hongbo: Main pilot of the mission.
Tang Shengjie: Flight engineer.
Jiang Xinlin: Flight engineer.

Tang Hongbo is a veteran Chinese astronaut who has participated in two previous missions to space. Tang Shengjie is a flight engineer who has participated in a previous mission to space. Jiang Xinlin is a flight engineer who is making his first mission to space.

Launch and arrival at the space station

The Shenzhou-17 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on October 26, 2023 at 11:14 UTC. The spacecraft docked with the Tiangong space station on October 27, 2023 at 06:54 UTC.

scientific experiments

The astronauts of the Shenzhou-17 mission will carry out a series of scientific and technological experiments at the Tiangong space station. The experiments include:

Studies of human physiology in microgravity conditions.
Cellular and molecular biology experiments.
Plasma physics experiments.

Preparation for the Shenzhou-18 mission

The Shenzhou-17 mission is also preparing the Tiangong space station for the arrival of the Shenzhou-18 mission, which is scheduled for next year. The Shenzhou-18 mission will bring new modules and equipment to the station, expanding the number of astronauts who can live on the station to six.

Conclusions

The Shenzhou-17 mission is an important milestone in the Chinese space program. The mission represents a new step in Chinese space exploration, and demonstrates China's commitment to becoming a leading space power.