China has successfully launched a three-person crew to the Tiangong space station for a six-month mission. Watch this report for more details!

China Sends Three Astronauts To Tiangong Space Station

<p><strong>Tiangong space station:&nbsp;</strong>The Chinese space agency has released first panoramic image of its Tiangong space station for the first time. The image shows the full stretch of the T-shaped space station with the solar panels unfurled to their fullest extent, and surface of the Earth in the background.</p>

<p>According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), this image of the Tiangong space station was taken by a Shenzhou 16 astronaut when the spacecraft was flying above the space station before its return to Earth.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Pneumonia outbreak in China: Here's everything we know</strong></p>

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<p>The project to construct Tiangong space station began in 1992 and the actual construction started in 2021. There have been a few times the space station has been clickedbefore. But this time around, the Shenzhou 16 spacecraft made a special 'flyby' after undocking from the space station and clicked a picture from just a few hundred metres above it.</p>

<p>SCMP reported that the picture was clicked last month by Gui Haichao.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gui is a researcher and a civilian astronaut.</p>

<p>The latest picture shows the full space station. The core module, named Tianhe, is at the centre. Mengtian and Wentian, the two laboratory modules are docked at either sides. Each of this laboratory modules has a pair of solar panels that are 55 metres in length.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The interesting thing is, these three modules were sent to space in separate launches and the assembly took place in the orbit.</p>

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<p>The Tiangong space station also has a 10-metre robotic arm. It is connected to the Wentian, one of the laboratory modules. There are slots in Mengtian, the other laboratory module, for exposure experiments.</p>

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<p>The Chinese space station is widely perceived to be a rival to the ageing International Space Station (ISS). The US severely restricted China's access to the International Space Station and China has been able to take a prject of its own space station to near completion. It is not yet fully clear how much international access will actually be afforded at the Tiangong space station.<br />
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Tiangong space station: The Chinese space agency has released first panoramic image of its Tiangong space station for the first time. The image shows the full stretch of the T-shaped space station with the solar panels unfurled to their fullest extent, and surface of the Earth in the background.

Tiangong space station: The Chinese space agency has released first panoramic image of its Tiangong space station for the first time. The image shows the full stretch of the T-shaped space station with the solar panels unfurled to their fullest extent, and surface of the Earth in the background. According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), this image of the Tiangong space station was taken by a Shenzhou 16 astronaut when the spacecraft was flying above the space station before its return to Earth. Watch | Pneumonia outbreak in China: Here's everything we know × The project to construct Tiangong space station began in 1992 and the actual construction started in 2021. There have been a few times the space station has been clickedbefore. But this time around, the Shenzhou 16 spacecraft made a special 'flyby' after undocking from the space station and clicked a picture from just a few hundred metres above it. SCMP reported that the picture was clicked last month by Gui Haichao. Gui is a researcher and a civilian astronaut. The latest picture shows the full space station. The core module, named Tianhe, is at the centre. Mengtian and Wentian, the two laboratory modules are docked at either sides. Each of this laboratory modules has a pair of solar panels that are 55 metres in length. The interesting thing is, these three modules were sent to space in separate launches and the assembly took place in the orbit. Also Read | A rogue star can send Earth smashing into Moon, wiping out all life, study finds The Tiangong space station also has a 10-metre robotic arm. It is connected to the Wentian, one of the laboratory modules. There are slots in Mengtian, the other laboratory module, for exposure experiments. Also Read | It's all in the shape: Science reveals what makes Milky Way unique The Chinese space station is widely perceived to be a rival to the ageing International Space Station (ISS). The US severely restricted China's access to the International Space Station and China has been able to take a prject of its own space station to near completion. It is not yet fully clear how much international access will actually be afforded at the Tiangong space station.

Tiangong space station: China releases beautiful panoramic image with fully visible structure

<p>Scientists in China are collaborating with European researchers to create an incredibly sensitive space telescope designed to monitor the universe's most violent explosions, media reports said. This project, known as the Polar-2 mission, is a joint effort involving scientists from Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and China. The goal of the mission is to deliver this ultimate telescope to China's Tiangong space station in 2025.</p>

<h2><strong>Studying Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs)</strong></h2>

<p>The primary objective of the Polar-2 mission is to monitor any gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are energetic particles of light resulting from some of the most powerful cosmic explosions since the Big Bang.</p>

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<p>These bursts, known for their intense and brief flashes of gamma radiation, have remained poorly understood despite their discovery over five decades ago,&nbsp;a physicist from the University of Geneva,&nbsp;Nicolas Produit, said at the&nbsp;International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday (Oct 4).&nbsp;</p>

<p>One theory suggests that GRBs originate from the core of explosions triggered by events like the birth of a black hole or the collision of dense, spinning cores of collapsed stars.</p>

<p>However, due to the random nature of GRBs, in terms of their time of occurrence in the universe and the place where they happen, studying them has proven challenging.</p>

<h2><strong>Polar-2's significance</strong></h2>

<p>Polar-2 mission follows&nbsp;the success of its predecessor mission. The earlier mission was a collaboration between researchers from Switzerland, China, and Poland.</p>

<p>The focus of that mission was to shed light on the structure, magnetic fields, and emission mechanisms of GRBs.</p>

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<p>The team developed a GRB polarimeter that spent six months aboard China's Tiangong-2 space lab. What it did was&nbsp;measure the rotation angle of light particles detected by a gamma-ray detector.</p>

<h2><strong>Polar-2 is bigger and more sensitive</strong></h2>

<p>Building on the success and insights from the first mission, Polar-2 has similar technologies, however, things are at a much larger scale this time.</p>

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<p>It is four times larger and ten times more sensitive than its predecessor. It is due to the advancements such as silicon-based photomultiplier tubes,&nbsp;Produit said during his speech.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Polar-2 is one of seven international experiments selected by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to be hosted by the Tiangong space station.</p>

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Scientists in China are collaborating with European researchers to create an incredibly sensitive space telescope designed to monitor the universe's most violent explosions, media reports said.

Scientists in China are collaborating with European researchers to create an incredibly sensitive space telescope designed to monitor the universe's most violent explosions, media reports said. This project, known as the Polar-2 mission, is a joint effort involving scientists from Switzerland, Poland, Germany, and China. The goal of the mission is to deliver this ultimate telescope to China's Tiangong space station in 2025. Studying Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs) The primary objective of the Polar-2 mission is to monitor any gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), which are energetic particles of light resulting from some of the most powerful cosmic explosions since the Big Bang. Also Read | Green Climate Fund's new head aims to include left-out communities in climate finance These bursts, known for their intense and brief flashes of gamma radiation, have remained poorly understood despite their discovery over five decades ago, a physicist from the University of Geneva, Nicolas Produit, said at the International Astronautical Congress in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday (Oct 4). One theory suggests that GRBs originate from the core of explosions triggered by events like the birth of a black hole or the collision of dense, spinning cores of collapsed stars. However, due to the random nature of GRBs, in terms of their time of occurrence in the universe and the place where they happen, studying them has proven challenging. Polar-2's significance Polar-2 mission follows the success of its predecessor mission. The earlier mission was a collaboration between researchers from Switzerland, China, and Poland. The focus of that mission was to shed light on the structure, magnetic fields, and emission mechanisms of GRBs. Also Read | Typhoon Koinu kills one in Taiwan; China braces for storm The team developed a GRB polarimeter that spent six months aboard China's Tiangong-2 space lab. What it did was measure the rotation angle of light particles detected by a gamma-ray detector. Polar-2 is bigger and more sensitive Building on the success and insights from the first mission, Polar-2 has similar technologies, however, things are at a much larger scale this time. Watch | Inflation hits Canada hard this Thanksgiving × It is four times larger and ten times more sensitive than its predecessor. It is due to the advancements such as silicon-based photomultiplier tubes, Produit said during his speech. Polar-2 is one of seven international experiments selected by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to be hosted by the Tiangong space station. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

China's 'incredibly sensitive' space telescope will monitor universe's most violent explosions

<p>China on Tuesday (May 30) sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station including a civilian scientist, a first for the country. The liftoff has come as China pursues plans for a manned mission to the Moon by 2030. The Shenzhou-16 crew lifted off atop a Long March 2F rocket. The launch took place from the Jiquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. The rocket lifted off&nbsp;at 9:31 am local time (0131 GMT), AFP reported.</p>

<p>Jing Haipeng is the mission commander. This is his fourth trip off the Earth. Accompanying him are engineer Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao, a Beihang University professor and first Chinese civilian in space.</p>

<p>China is spending billions of dollars on its military-run space programme and trying to catch up with the US and Russia.</p>

<p>The Tiangong is a crown jewel of China's space programme, landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. It has also made China the third country to put humans in orbit.</p>

<p>The mission is the first to the Tiangong space station since it entered its "application and development" stage, Beijing said.</p>

<h2><strong>The mission timeline</strong></h2>

<p>Once it reaches the orbit the Shenzhou-16 will dock at Tiangong space station's Tianhe core module before the crew meet three colleagues from the previous manned Shenzhou-15 flight, who have been at the space station for six months and will return to Earth in the coming days.</p>

<p>The mission will "carry out large-scale, in-orbit experiments... in the study of novel quantum phenomena, high-precision space time-frequency systems, the verification of general relativity, and the origin of life," CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told reporters on Monday.</p>

<p>A fresh supply of drinking water, food, clothing and propellant was made to the space station this month in order to make it ready for Shenzhou-16's arrival.</p>

<p>AFP quoted an expert who said that Tuesday's flight was "a regular crew rotation flight as one crew hands over to another", but even that was significant.</p>

<p>"Accumulating depth of experience in human spaceflight operations is important and doesn't involve new spectacular milestones all the time," said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and astrophysicist at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.</p>

<p>China is aiming to build a base on the Moon. On Monday, CMSA spokesman Lin reaffirmed China's plan of landing a manned mission on the Moon by 2030.</p>

<p>"The overall goal is to achieve China's first manned landing on the Moon by 2030 and carry out lunar scientific exploration and related technological experiments," he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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China on Tuesday (May 30) sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station including a civilian scientist, a first for the country. The liftoff has come as China pursues plans for a manned mission to the Moon by 2030.

China on Tuesday (May 30) sent three astronauts to its Tiangong space station including a civilian scientist, a first for the country. The liftoff has come as China pursues plans for a manned mission to the Moon by 2030. The Shenzhou-16 crew lifted off atop a Long March 2F rocket. The launch took place from the Jiquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. The rocket lifted off at 9:31 am local time (0131 GMT), AFP reported. Jing Haipeng is the mission commander. This is his fourth trip off the Earth. Accompanying him are engineer Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao, a Beihang University professor and first Chinese civilian in space. China is spending billions of dollars on its military-run space programme and trying to catch up with the US and Russia. The Tiangong is a crown jewel of China's space programme, landed robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. It has also made China the third country to put humans in orbit. The mission is the first to the Tiangong space station since it entered its "application and development" stage, Beijing said. The mission timeline Once it reaches the orbit the Shenzhou-16 will dock at Tiangong space station's Tianhe core module before the crew meet three colleagues from the previous manned Shenzhou-15 flight, who have been at the space station for six months and will return to Earth in the coming days. The mission will "carry out large-scale, in-orbit experiments... in the study of novel quantum phenomena, high-precision space time-frequency systems, the verification of general relativity, and the origin of life," CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang told reporters on Monday. A fresh supply of drinking water, food, clothing and propellant was made to the space station this month in order to make it ready for Shenzhou-16's arrival. AFP quoted an expert who said that Tuesday's flight was "a regular crew rotation flight as one crew hands over to another", but even that was significant. "Accumulating depth of experience in human spaceflight operations is important and doesn't involve new spectacular milestones all the time," said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and astrophysicist at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. China is aiming to build a base on the Moon. On Monday, CMSA spokesman Lin reaffirmed China's plan of landing a manned mission on the Moon by 2030. "The overall goal is to achieve China's first manned landing on the Moon by 2030 and carry out lunar scientific exploration and related technological experiments," he said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

China sends first civilian to space with Shenzhou-16 liftoff

<p>The uncontrolled return to Earth of the Chinese booster rocket last week has been suspected to have cause debris that fell within metres form villages in Indonesia and Malaysia. According to a Malaysian news outlet, a burnt ring with diameter of about 5 metres was found in Kalimantan in Indonesia.</p>

<p>Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist from Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics said that the ring that fell in Kalimantan looked a lot like Chinese rocket's core stage.</p>

<p>"So, CZ-5B recap: signficant debris falls in Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sawarak, Malaysia (both on Borneo). No casualties or property damage reported, but debris is near villages and a few hundred metres, either way, could have been a different story," he tweeted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">So, CZ-5B recap: signficant debris falls in Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sawarak, Malaysia (both on Borneo). No casualties or property damage reported, but debris is near villages and a few hundred metres either way could have been a different story.</p>
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) <a href="https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1554113609248161792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Chinese booster rocket made an uncontrolled re-entry into atmosphere on Saturday (July 30). The rocket was used to launch second of the three modules of Chinese space station Tiangong.</p>

<p>Chinese space agency claimed that 'Most of its devices were ablated and destroyed during re-entry'</p>

<p>"The debris of the rocket caught fire while entering the Earth's airspace and the movement of the burning debris also crossed Malaysian airspace and could be detected in several areas including crossing the airspace around the state of Sarawak," it said</p>

<p>However, the re-entry attracted criticism from NASA.</p>

<p>NASA administrator Bill Nelson criticized Beijing on Twitter, saying the failure to share details of the rocket's descent was irresponsible and risky.</p>

<p>"All spacefaring nations should follow established best practices, and do their part to share this type of information in advance," Nelson wrote, "to allow reliable predictions of potential debris impact risk, especially for heavy-lift vehicles, like the Long March 5B, which carry a significant risk of loss of life and property."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The uncontrolled return to Earth of the Chinese booster rocket last week has been suspected to have cause debris that fell within metres form villages in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The uncontrolled return to Earth of the Chinese booster rocket last week has been suspected to have cause debris that fell within metres form villages in Indonesia and Malaysia. According to a Malaysian news outlet, a burnt ring with diameter of about 5 metres was found in Kalimantan in Indonesia. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist from Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics said that the ring that fell in Kalimantan looked a lot like Chinese rocket's core stage. "So, CZ-5B recap: signficant debris falls in Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sawarak, Malaysia (both on Borneo). No casualties or property damage reported, but debris is near villages and a few hundred metres, either way, could have been a different story," he tweeted. So, CZ-5B recap: signficant debris falls in Kalimantan, Indonesia and Sawarak, Malaysia (both on Borneo). No casualties or property damage reported, but debris is near villages and a few hundred metres either way could have been a different story. — Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) August 1, 2022 × The Chinese booster rocket made an uncontrolled re-entry into atmosphere on Saturday (July 30). The rocket was used to launch second of the three modules of Chinese space station Tiangong. Chinese space agency claimed that 'Most of its devices were ablated and destroyed during re-entry' "The debris of the rocket caught fire while entering the Earth's airspace and the movement of the burning debris also crossed Malaysian airspace and could be detected in several areas including crossing the airspace around the state of Sarawak," it said However, the re-entry attracted criticism from NASA. NASA administrator Bill Nelson criticized Beijing on Twitter, saying the failure to share details of the rocket's descent was irresponsible and risky. "All spacefaring nations should follow established best practices, and do their part to share this type of information in advance," Nelson wrote, "to allow reliable predictions of potential debris impact risk, especially for heavy-lift vehicles, like the Long March 5B, which carry a significant risk of loss of life and property." (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Debris from Chinese rocket booster found metres from villages: Report

<p>The first astronauts arrived at China's new space station on Thursday in the country's longest crewed mission to date, a landmark step in establishing Beijing as a major space power.</p>

<p>The trio blasted off on a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan launch centre in northwest China's Gobi desert, and their craft docked at the Tiangong station around seven hours later, where they will spend the next three months.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shenzhou-12-chinas-rocket-carrying-first-crew-blasts-off-to-new-space-station-392043"><strong>Also read | Shenzhou-12: China's rocket carrying first crew blasts off to new space station</strong></a><br />
<br />
State broadcaster CCTV showed a live feed from inside the spacecraft during the journey, with the three astronauts lifting their helmet visors after it reached orbit as one smiled and waved at the camera.</p>

<p>Another floated a pen just off his lap in zero-gravity as he browsed the flight manual.<br />
<br />
<strong>Watch: China launches three-man crew to new space station</strong></p>

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<p>Around seven hours after lift-off, space officials confirmed that the craft had docked with Tianhe, the core module of the country's new space station.</p>

<p>The Shenzhou-12 craft has "successfully docked with the forward port of the core module" of the Tiangong station, said the China Manned Space Agency, as state TV showed live footage.</p>

<p>At a ceremony before blast-off, the three astronauts, already wearing their spacesuits, greeted a crowd of supporters and space workers, who sang the patriotic song "Without the Chinese Communist Party, there would be no new China".</p>

<p>The mission's commander is Nie Haisheng, a decorated air force pilot in the People's Liberation Army who has already participated in two space missions.</p>

<p>The two other members are also members of the military.</p>

<p><strong>Space Life</strong></p>

<p>The Tianhe module of the space station has separate living spaces for each of the astronauts, a "space treadmill" and bike for exercise, and a communication centre for emails and video calls with ground control.</p>

<p>It is China's first crewed mission in nearly five years.</p>

<p>Huang Weifen of the China Manned Space Program said the astronauts will perform two spacewalks during the mission, both lasting around six or seven hours.</p>

<p>She also said the trio will wear newly-developed spacewalk suits.</p>

<p>The launch represents a matter of huge prestige in China, as Beijing prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party on July 1 with a massive propaganda campaign.</p>

<p>To prepare for the mission, the crew underwent more than 6,000 hours of training, including hundreds of underwater somersaults in full space gear.</p>

<p>The Chinese space agency is planning a total of 11 launches through to the end of next year, including three more manned missions that will deliver two lab modules to expand the 70-tonne station, along with supplies and crew members.</p>

<p>China's space ambitions have been fuelled in part by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station, a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan.</p>

<p>It is due for retirement after 2024, even though NASA has said it could potentially remain functional beyond 2028.</p>

<p>Tiangong will be much smaller than the ISS and is expected to have a lifespan of at least 10 years.</p>

<p>China has said it would be open to international collaboration on its space station although it has yet to give specific details.</p>

<p>Zhou Jianping, the chief designer for the space programme, said "foreign astronauts are certainly going to enter the Chinese space station one day".</p>

<p>"There are a number of countries that have expressed a desire to do that and we will be open to that in future," he said.</p>


The first astronauts arrived at China's new space station on Thursday in the country's longest crewed mission to date, a landmark step in establishing Beijing as a major space power.

The first astronauts arrived at China's new space station on Thursday in the country's longest crewed mission to date, a landmark step in establishing Beijing as a major space power. The trio blasted off on a Long March-2F rocket from the Jiuquan launch centre in northwest China's Gobi desert, and their craft docked at the Tiangong station around seven hours later, where they will spend the next three months. Also read | Shenzhou-12: China's rocket carrying first crew blasts off to new space station State broadcaster CCTV showed a live feed from inside the spacecraft during the journey, with the three astronauts lifting their helmet visors after it reached orbit as one smiled and waved at the camera. Another floated a pen just off his lap in zero-gravity as he browsed the flight manual. Watch: China launches three-man crew to new space station Around seven hours after lift-off, space officials confirmed that the craft had docked with Tianhe, the core module of the country's new space station. The Shenzhou-12 craft has "successfully docked with the forward port of the core module" of the Tiangong station, said the China Manned Space Agency, as state TV showed live footage. At a ceremony before blast-off, the three astronauts, already wearing their spacesuits, greeted a crowd of supporters and space workers, who sang the patriotic song "Without the Chinese Communist Party, there would be no new China". The mission's commander is Nie Haisheng, a decorated air force pilot in the People's Liberation Army who has already participated in two space missions. The two other members are also members of the military. Space Life The Tianhe module of the space station has separate living spaces for each of the astronauts, a "space treadmill" and bike for exercise, and a communication centre for emails and video calls with ground control. It is China's first crewed mission in nearly five years. Huang Weifen of the China Manned Space Program said the astronauts will perform two spacewalks during the mission, both lasting around six or seven hours. She also said the trio will wear newly-developed spacewalk suits. The launch represents a matter of huge prestige in China, as Beijing prepares to mark the 100th anniversary of the ruling Communist Party on July 1 with a massive propaganda campaign. To prepare for the mission, the crew underwent more than 6,000 hours of training, including hundreds of underwater somersaults in full space gear. The Chinese space agency is planning a total of 11 launches through to the end of next year, including three more manned missions that will deliver two lab modules to expand the 70-tonne station, along with supplies and crew members. China's space ambitions have been fuelled in part by a US ban on its astronauts on the International Space Station, a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Canada, Europe and Japan. It is due for retirement after 2024, even though NASA has said it could potentially remain functional beyond 2028. Tiangong will be much smaller than the ISS and is expected to have a lifespan of at least 10 years. China has said it would be open to international collaboration on its space station although it has yet to give specific details. Zhou Jianping, the chief designer for the space programme, said "foreign astronauts are certainly going to enter the Chinese space station one day". "There are a number of countries that have expressed a desire to do that and we will be open to that in future," he said.

Shenzhou-12: First astronauts arrive at China's Tiangong space station

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