Poster Design: Yin Zelun
Xinhua News Agency, Jiuquan, June 5thTitle: Exploring the Tianhe River by Boat—The Flying Documentary of Shenzhou 14
Xinhua News Agency reporters Li Lihan, Li Guoli, Mi Siyuan
The summer wind blew slightly, sending off the Shenzhou spacecraft. The vast sky, looking forward to the arrival of flying heroes.
At 10:44 on June 5, 2022, following the earth-shattering loud noise, the Long March 2F carrier rocket lifted the Shenzhou 14 spacecraft carrying three astronauts, and pulled up from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center deep in the desert. Get up and fly to the sky.
This is the first manned flight in the construction phase of the Chinese space station, and it is also the ninth Chinese space expedition.
According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, at 10:44 on June 5, 2022 Beijing time, the Long March 2F Yao 14 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft was ignited and launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. About 577 Seconds later, the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft was successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. The flight crew was in good condition and the launch was a complete success.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gang
When the rocket took off, the Chinese space station composed of Tianhe core module and Tianzhou cargo spacecraft was flying over, waiting for the arrival of the new family.
Take a boat cruise, and then explore the Tianhe. The flight crew composed of the second batch of astronauts in my country will work and live in orbit for 6 months. The main task is to cooperate with the rendezvous and repositioning of the Wentian experimental module, the Mengtian experimental module and the core module to complete the orbit of the Chinese space station. Assembly and construction, etc.
To build their own “space home”, Chinese astronauts have been fighting for 30 years, and the Chinese nation has also looked forward to it for thousands of years.
The east wind blows and it is easy to sail
In the early morning of June 5, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Wentian Pavilion.
The farewell crowd and media reporters have been waiting here, looking forward to the appearance of the Shenzhou 14 astronauts.
At regarding 7:50, in the melody of “Singing the Motherland” and the cheers of the crowd, Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe in space suits appeared in front of people with steady steps.
Since 2003, every space trip of Chinese astronauts has started from here.
The sun shone softly on them and on the wall behind them. On the wall, photos of the astronauts from Shenzhou 5 to Shenzhou 13 are lined up in order, including Chen Dong and Liu Yang.
On June 5, the expedition ceremony of the astronaut crew of the Shenzhou 14 manned mission was held in Wentian Pavilion Square, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Chen Dong (right), Liu Yang (middle), and Cai Xuzhe are regarding to start their 6-month flight mission.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cai Yang
In the golden autumn of 2016, Chen Dong, a horse, realized his dream of flying for the first time. For 6 years, he has been obsessed with the starry sky, “I originally wanted to go to space, but now I want to go to space even more.”
Returning to space as the commander for the first time, Chen Dong is more calm and confident: “Our crew will definitely complete the mission with full confidence, full blood, and full performance.”
In June 2012, Liu Yang, who belongs to the horse year, represented Chinese women to gallop across the sky and fly high for nine days, becoming the first female astronaut to fly in the sky.
At the same place and at the same time, Liu Yang ushered in the opportunity to fly for the second time. She said that over the past 10 years, she has been studying and training in meditation, and has been fully prepared for the flight mission, in order to “write the glory of the motherland in space once more and once more”.
In May 2010, Cai Xuzhe, who belongs to the dragon, officially became a member of the astronaut brigade. For 12 years, he has been practicing hard, always preparing for flying missions. On his first expedition to space, the “novice astronaut” is looking forward to experiencing the feeling of weightlessness in space, and looking forward to seeing “the moment when the space home is built”.
Suddenly, the scene fell silent. The commander-in-chief of China’s manned space project stood in awe, and the three astronauts lined up, standing at attention, and salute!
On June 5, the expedition ceremony of the astronaut crew of the Shenzhou 14 manned mission was held in Wentian Pavilion Square, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Chen Dong (middle), Liu Yang (right), and Cai Xuzhe are regarding to start their 6-month flight mission.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gang
“Comrade Commander-in-Chief, we are instructed to carry out the Shenzhou 14 manned flight mission. We are ready, please instruct me. Astronaut Chen Dong of the Astronaut Brigade of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army!” “Astronaut Liu Yang!” “Astronaut Cai Xuzhe!”
“Set off!”
“Yes!” The three astronauts answered in unison and raised their arms to salute. Afterwards, they smiled and waved to the see-off crowd and boarded the vehicle to head to the launch site.
Witnessed by the desert, another expedition of the Chinese nation towards the remote space has begun.
Work together to pave the way to the sky
5 kilometers away from Wentian Pavilion is the manned space launch site of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The 105-meter-high launch tower stands under the blue sky.
“Attention everyone, prepare in 30 minutes!” Commander Deng Xiaojun’s password was clear and firm.
The launch tower slowly opened, and the milky white ship and arrow combination stood majestically, waiting for the moment to rise into the air.
The Long March 2F carrier rocket used for launch is currently the only manned carrier rocket in my country. Since its first flight in 1999, 13 Shenzhou spacecraft and 2 space laboratories have been successfully launched, including 8 manned flights. The launch mission has a 100% success rate.
According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, at 10:44 on June 5, 2022 Beijing time, the Long March 2F Yao 14 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft was ignited and launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. About 577 Seconds later, the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft was successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. The flight crew was in good condition and the launch was a complete success.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Cai Yang
“At present, the reliability evaluation value of the Chang-2F rocket has reached 0.9894, and the safety evaluation value has reached the international advanced level of 0.99996.” Chang Wuquan, chief designer of the Long March 2F carrier rocket of the Aerospace Science and Technology Group, introduced.
In space station missions, astronauts spend a long time in orbit. In order to cope with possible emergencies, starting from the Long March 2 F Yao 12 carrier rocket, the new launch modes of “launching one launch, backing up one launch” and “rolling backup” have been adopted, which has added “” Double insurance”.
The Long March 2 F Yao 14 carrier rocket is the emergency rescue rocket for the Shenzhou 13 mission, and it is also the second carrier rocket to perform the emergency duty “stand guard” mission.
“On April 16, the Shenzhou 13 astronauts returned successfully, and the Yao 14 rocket was transferred from the emergency state to the normal mission state. Coupled with the launch preparation time, the standing time was nearly 10 months, which also refreshed the previous Yao 13. The standing record set by the rocket.” Chang Wuquan said.
At this time, it can be clearly seen from the huge electronic display screen in the command display hall of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center that the three astronauts are conducting various inspections in an orderly manner in the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft.
The Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft is an emergency rescue spacecraft for the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft.
Since the implementation of the space station mission, in order to ensure the smooth deployment of the mission and the absolute safety of the astronauts, the Shenzhou spacecraft must have emergency rescue capabilities that combine multiple guarantees between heaven and earth. To this end, the developers of the First Academy of Aerospace Science and Technology Group adopted the “rolling standby” strategy, that is, “one ship launches, one ship on standby”, and enabled the spacecraft to have an 8.5-day emergency launch capability.
At present, the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft has been on standby at the launch site for seven months.
“Attention everyone, 15 minutes to prepare!” The countdown password sounded once more.
According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, at 10:44 on June 5, 2022 Beijing time, the Long March 2F Yao 14 carrier rocket carrying the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft was ignited and launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. About 577 Seconds later, the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft was successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. The flight crew was in good condition and the launch was a complete success.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gang
Wang Zuobing, the chief engineer in charge of the launch site system, once once more confirmed that all the facilities and equipment were normal, then fastened the protective cover of the platform and evacuated to the safe area with his colleagues. They were the last workers to leave the launch site before the rocket ignited.
“Attention everyone, prepare in 1 minute!” In the voice of the password, the pendulum rod supporting the rocket opened, and the system equipment connected to the rocket on the launch tower fell off automatically.
At this moment, the launch site was quiet, everyone on the scene held their breath, only the countdown password echoed in the sky-
“5, 4, 3, 2, 1, fire!”
The orange-red fire dragon slammed out from the bottom of the rocket, and the rocket rose straight to the sky, drawing a magnificent arc in the blue sky, and flew towards the space station combination that just flew over the launch site.
This is the 23rd flight mission since the establishment of my country’s manned spaceflight project, and the 3rd manned flight mission in the space station phase.
Meet the new journey of “Heavenly Palace”
About 577 seconds following the rocket ignited, the Shenzhou spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket and entered the predetermined orbit. The flight crew was in good condition and the launch was a complete success. At the same time, it also means that the Long March 2 F Yao 15 rocket officially “takes over” to become the emergency rescue duty rocket, and the Shenzhou 15 manned spacecraft is also on standby as the Shenzhou 14 emergency rescue spacecraft.
During the Shenzhou 14 mission, the construction of the Tiangong space station with the Tianhe core module, Wentian experimental module and Mengtian experimental module as the basic configuration will be fully completed, and a national space laboratory will be built. “One task following another is very complicated and very important.” Chen Dong said, “Faced with such a huge system and heavy task, our standard for completing the task has not changed, we just have to fight.”
On June 5, the expedition ceremony of the astronaut crew of the Shenzhou 14 manned mission was held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Chen Dong (middle), Liu Yang (right), and Cai Xuzhe are regarding to start their 6-month flight mission.Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Gang
For them, this will be a very risky and challenging half year——
In the meantime, they will cooperate with the ground to complete the assembly and construction of the space station, and gradually build from the single-cabin assembly flight to the three-cabin assembly flight state, and experience 9 kinds of assembly configurations, 5 times of rendezvous and docking, 3 times of separation and evacuation, and 2 times of repositioning. Mission; will be stationed in Wentian experimental cabin and Mengtian experimental cabin for the first time to complete the establishment of a manned environment; cooperate with the ground to carry out two-cabin assembly, three-cabin assembly, large and small robotic arm tests, and airlock cabin exit-related functional tests, etc. ; For the first time, the airlock cabin was used to carry out the exit activity; the unlocking and installation of more than ten cabinets in the Wentian experimental cabin and the Mengtian experimental cabin were completed.
During the period, they will also carry out “Tiangong Classroom” space lectures and other public welfare activities, carry out on-orbit health monitoring and inspection, protective exercise, on-orbit training and drills, as well as a large number of space station platform inspection tests, equipment maintenance, repair verification, and material management. and station management.
For them, this will also be half a year full of surprises and romance——
In the meantime, they will celebrate the birthday of the motherland in space, and will also spend the romantic Mid-Autumn Festival in the space station. They will also welcome their dear comrades-the Shenzhou 15 crew to the space station at the end of the mission. This is the first time that astronauts have been rotated in orbit in the history of Chinese spaceflight. By then, there will be six Chinese people working and living in space at the same time.
In the meantime, they will continue to carry out relevant experimental work, and use better platforms to conduct scientific experiments with a higher level of technology and more complexities, so that the space station is not only the space home of the Chinese, but also an incubator of scientific and technological achievements, serving the world and benefiting the whole world. Humanity.
In September 1992, the central government decided to implement the manned spaceflight project, and determined the “three-step” development strategy.
From unmanned to manned, from one person to many people, from short-term stay to medium and long-term stay, from in-vehicle experiment to spacewalk… Over the past 30 years, Chinese astronauts have been making unremitting efforts and hard work, and the “three-step” development strategy Steady progress has continuously refreshed China’s heights and created China’s miracles.
According to the plan, my country will complete the construction of the space station by the end of this year. The construction of China’s space station is not only an important goal of realizing the “three-step” strategy of my country’s manned spaceflight project, but also an important leading project for building a scientific and technological power and a space powerhouse, and it is also the space dream of thousands of Chinese people.
“China’s space home will be completed in our hands. How lucky and happy we are. We are even more proud of our great motherland, great nation, and great era.” Chen Dong said.
At present, a new generation of manned launch vehicles is carrying out a series of technological breakthroughs. The new generation of manned spaceships under development will be more comfortable and smarter, and the 100-ton heavy rockets are getting closer… After the completion of the space station, China’s manned spaceflight will face the It is the wider sea of stars. (Participating in writing: Zhang Ruijie, Song Chen)
[Editor in charge: Nisina]
