Chinese Manned Spacecraft 'Shenzhou 13' Launches Early Morning on the 16th

[Photo by AP Xinhua News Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] China will launch the manned spacecraft "Shenzhou 13" in the early morning of the 16th as part of the construction project of its independent space station, Tiangong.

According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on the 15th, Shenzhou 13 is scheduled to be launched at 00:23 on the 16th (01:23 KST on the 16th) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province, northwest China, aboard the "Long March-2F Yao-13" rocket.

Three astronauts, including commander Zhai Zhigang (55), Wang Yaping (41), and Ye Guangfu (41), will board Shenzhou 13.

Wang Yaping will be registered as the first Chinese female astronaut to conduct extravehicular activities outside the spacecraft while visiting the under-construction Chinese space station.

The three astronauts will dock with the space station module "Tianhe" and stay in space for six months, performing key technical tests related to the assembly and construction of Tiangong, installing various devices necessary for Tiangong's construction, and conducting scientific experiments.

CMSA stated, "The Shenzhou 13 manned flight mission is the sixth flight in the core technology verification phase of the space station and the final mission of this phase," adding, "After the Shenzhou 13 mission ends, we will be ready to support the subsequent construction and operation missions of our country's space station."

Earlier, on the 20th of last month, China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou 3 to transport one set of spacesuits for the Shenzhou 13 crew, one spare spacesuit, space station platform materials, cargo, and propellants.

Prior to that, Shenzhou 12, carrying three astronauts, was launched on June 17 and docked with Tianhe on the same day. They completed a 90-day mission at Tianhe and returned to Earth on the 17th of last month.

China plans to complete the Tiangong space station project by the end of next year. The space station under construction by China measures 37 meters in length and weighs 90 tons, which is one-third the size of the International Space Station (ISS) currently jointly operated by the United States, Russia, and others.

After the ISS ceases operations in 2024, the Chinese space station is expected to be the only space station for a while.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.