China to send three astronauts to Tiangong space station, part of its ambitious program
JIUQUAN SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER, China (AP) — China’s space agency is making final preparations to send the Shenzhou-18 crew into low-Earth orbit on Thursday as part of its ambitious space program that aims to put people on the moon by 2030.
In a press conference on Wednesday, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) introduced the three astronauts: Commander Ye Guangfu, 43, a veteran astronaut who was part of the Shenzhou-13 mission in 2021; and astronauts Li Cong, 34, and Li Guangsu, 36, who will go to space for the first time.
The three-member crew’s spacecraft is set for lift-off at 8:59 p.m. (1259 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in the country’s northwest. They will relieve the Shenzhou-17 team, who have manned China’s Tiangong space station since last October.
The crew will spend about six months on the space station. They will conduct scientific tests, install space debris protection equipment on the space station, carry out payload experiments, and popularize science education, among other things, according to Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the CMSA.
Related articles
Point guard Deivon Smith transferring to St. John's from Utah
Point guard Deivon Smith is transferring to St. John’s from Utah, giving Hall of Fame coach Rick Pit2024-05-07- Madonna shared a heartwarming behind-the-scenes album of her with her four younger children during h2024-05-07
- LONDON (AP) — U.K.-based mining giant Anglo American has rejected a 31 billion pound ($39 billion) t2024-05-07
What to expect in New York's special congressional election
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans’ majority could tighten by another vote after Tuesday’s special2024-05-07Russia defends veto of UN resolution to prohibit nukes in outer space
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia on Monday defended its veto of a U.N. resolution urging all nations to2024-05-07Chinese film festival screens 8 Russian movies
CHANGCHUN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Eight Russian movies are being presented at a film festival in Changc2024-05-07
atest comment