By 
January 3rd, 2021
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China space station officials foresee a busy schedule in the first half of 2021 as preparations are underway for the launch of the station’s core module.
That core module will be sent aloft by a Long March-5B Y2 rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China’s Hainan Province.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Astronaut training
In a China Central Television (CCTV) interview, Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China’s manned space program, said tests on the core module have been completed. Astronaut training is still underway, focused on carrying out a number of space walks to ramp up space station operations.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
After the core module is sent into orbit, the subsequent space missions will include the launch of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft, which will complete rendezvous and docking as well as some in-orbit verifications of key technologies, said Zhou.
“We will soon complete the construction of China’s first long-term orbital manned space station meeting advanced world levels, and will carry out large-scale space scientific research on it. We firmly believe that it will play a major role in the forefront of scientific exploration of mankind and also in the development of our space technology,” Zhou said.
Two phases
According to the mission plan, the space station construction will be implemented in two phases.
Previously, the Long March-5B rocket already made its maiden flight successfully, and will be launched for 11 times successively, including the launch of the core module and two experimental modules, four cargo spacecraft and four crew-carrying spacecraft.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
“Each of these tasks is of great importance,” Zhou told CCTV. “It involves a great deal of aspects, including production, research and development, testing, launch and retrieving, on-orbit monitoring and control, and a lot of scientific research activities. Therefore, we’ve proceeded with the tasks on multiple fronts. We have two launch sites and are working on three rocket models. So we will be really busy. More importantly, we must ensure the success and quality of each mission, the safety of our astronauts, and the reliable operation of the missions.”
Construction of the space station is the final step of a “three-step” development strategy for the country’s manned space group made by the Communist Party of China Central Committee in 1992.
Go to this CCTV video regarding China’s space station program, at:
Posted in Space News
