Current location:politics >>
New advances inspire China's deep space exploration
politics21People have gathered around
IntroductionThe Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the Tianhe module, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Lau ...
The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the Tianhe module, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, April 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua)
BEIJING, May 27 (Xinhua) -- With news of achievements pouring in these days, China is pushing forward its deep space exploration, aiming to contribute its wisdom in humankind's peaceful utilization of outer space.
SPACE STATION CONSTRUCTION
On April 29, China sent into space the core module of its space station, kicking off a series of key launch missions that aim to complete the construction of the station by the end of next year.
The successful launch of the Tianhe module marks that China's space station construction has entered the full implementation stage, which lays a solid foundation for the follow-up tasks.
Tianhe will act as the management and control hub of the space station Tiangong, meaning Heavenly Palace.
China will send two cargo spacecrafts and two manned crafts this year to dock with the core module. It plans six missions, including the launch of the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, two cargo spacecraft and two manned spaceships, in 2022 to complete the construction of the space station.
"The station is expected to contribute to the peaceful development and utilization of space resources through international cooperation, as well as to enrich technologies and experience for China's future explorations into deeper space," Bai Linhou, deputy chief designer of the space station at the China Academy of Space Technology.
China has extensive exchanges and cooperation on the space station project, with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the European Space Agency, and national space agencies from countries like Germany, Italy, France and Pakistan.
The cooperation has covered multiple fields, including technologies, science research and application, and astronaut selection and training, producing many achievements.
"Through cooperation, we want to build China's space station into a scientific research platform shared by the world and benefiting all humankind," said Hao Chun, director of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
Black and white photo released by the China National Space Administration on May 19, 2021, taken by an obstacle avoidance camera installed in front of the Mars rover, shows that a ramp on the lander has been extended to the surface of Mars. (China National Space Administration/Handout via Xinhua)
MARS LANDING
On May 15, China landed its Mars probe, Tianwen-1, on the red planet, ushering in a new chapter of China's deep space exploration and marking another contribution to humanity's exploration of the universe.
The lander, carrying a Mars rover, touched down at its pre-selected landing area in the southern part of Utopia Planitia, a vast plain on the northern hemisphere of Mars.
Tianwen-1, consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of southern China's island province of Hainan on July 23, 2020. It was the first step in China's planetary exploration of the solar system, with the aim of completing orbiting, landing and roving on the red planet in one mission.
More than 40 Mars missions have been launched since the 1960s, but only about half have succeeded. The success rate for landing is even lower.
The exploration of Mars will not only investigate whether there is or was life on Mars but will also help shed light on the history of evolution and the future development trends of Earth, as well as search for potential living space for human beings, said Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of China's first Mars exploration mission.
Extensive international cooperation has been carried out during the Tianwen-1 mission.
China is working with the European Space Agency and Argentina for the mission's measurement and control, and with France and Austria for the calibration of multiple payloads and data analysis.
FUTURE EXPLORATION PLAN
China would implement multiple space missions, including Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, Chang'e-8, asteroid exploration, Mars sampling returns, and Jupiter explorations in the future.
It has completed feasibility studies of the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program and is expected to build an international lunar research station on the moon's south pole in the future.
"China is willing to cooperate with relevant countries and international organizations to deliberate the basic capabilities for the initial construction of a lunar research station and test key technologies," said Wu Yanhua, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Three missions are planned for the fourth phase of the lunar exploration program. The program includes the retrieval of lunar samples from the south pole by Chang'e-6, a detailed survey of the moon's south pole resources by Chang'e-7, and the testing of key technologies in preparation for the construction of the lunar research station by Chang'e-8.
China aims to launch the Chang'e-6 probe to collect samples in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon around 2024. The CNSA has invited scientists around the world to participate in the program, offering to carry solicited payloads.
China is also pushing forward its exploration of a near-Earth asteroid and a main-belt comet with one space probe.
The mission is to send a probe around an asteroid named 2016HO3 and then land on it to collect samples. The probe will then fly back to Earth's proximity and release a capsule to return the samples. After that, it will continue its journey and finally arrive at the main asteroid belt and orbit comet 311P. The whole process will take about ten years.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Index news portal”。http://germany.prpsystems.net/content-04c599961.html
Related articles
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
politicsA university boss has been praised after telling a pro-Gaza student mob he will not meet them until ...
【politics】
Read moreDanny Dyer horrified to learn son Arty, nine, is a fan of controversial influencer and self
politicsDanny Dyer has spoken of his horror at learning his young son Arty is a fan of controversial influen ...
【politics】
Read moreUK inflation falls to lowest level since late 2021 as food prices ease further
politicsLONDON (AP) — Inflation in the U.K. fell to its lowest level in two and a half years in March after ...
【politics】
Read more
Popular articles
- Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?
- Ariana Grande's 98
- US navy flies aircraft through the Taiwan Strait a day after US
- Columbia University president to testify in Congress on college conflicts over Israel
- Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
- Virginia lawmakers set to take up Youngkin's proposed amendments, vetoes in reconvened session
Latest articles
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
3 Vietnamese land rights protesters released early from prison — Radio Free Asia
Stock market today: Asian benchmarks are mixed while US seems committed to current rates
Columbia University president to testify in Congress on college conflicts over Israel
Medics remove 150 MAGGOTS from a woman's mouth after dental procedure left her with rotting tissue
3 Vietnamese land rights protesters released early from prison — Radio Free Asia
LINKS
- A $5,000 check won by Billie Jean King 50 years ago helped create Women's Sports Foundation
- Broadchurch actress is unrecognisable as she transforms into a no
- Some Houston
- Tiger Woods gets special exemption to US Open at Pinehurst
- Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer take their wives on the local election trail
- China's manufacturing PMI down in April
- Iraq qualifies for Paris Olympics men’s soccer tournament with win over Indonesia at U23 Asian Cup
- Thousands rally in Slovakia to protest a controversial overhaul of public broadcasting
- Mike Yaz homers at Fenway after visit from Hall of Fame grandfather; Giants beat Red Sox 3
- Tiger Woods gets special exemption to US Open at Pinehurst