Astronauts get down to work in orbiting module
Source: Xinhua |
June 15, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE astronauts installed new floorboards in the orbiting Tiangong-1 space module yesterday morning, according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
The maneuver was a warm-up for the three-person crew that is expected to carry out scientific experiments and technical tests during the rest of their 15-day journey.
Videos show the three astronauts, including China's second female astronaut in space, wearing blue jumpsuits while installing the floorboards.
The astronauts, Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping, were launched aboard China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft on Tuesday from northwest China's Gobi Desert. They entered the Tiangong-1 on Thursday afternoon, after the Shenzhou-10 completed an automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-1.
The Shenzhou-10 is China's fifth manned spacecraft and the first application-orientated flight under China's space program since the country introduced its manned space program in 1992.
The astronauts are to conduct a manual docking with the space module during their journey, as well as give a lecture to students on Earth.
China is the third country after the United States and Russia to acquire the technologies and skills necessary for space rendezvous and docking procedures and to supply manpower and materials for an orbiting module via different docking methods.
The Tiangong-1 space lab has been in orbit for about 620 days and will remain in service for three more months. It is the first step in building a permanent space station, a goal to be done by 2020.
The maneuver was a warm-up for the three-person crew that is expected to carry out scientific experiments and technical tests during the rest of their 15-day journey.
Videos show the three astronauts, including China's second female astronaut in space, wearing blue jumpsuits while installing the floorboards.
The astronauts, Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping, were launched aboard China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft on Tuesday from northwest China's Gobi Desert. They entered the Tiangong-1 on Thursday afternoon, after the Shenzhou-10 completed an automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-1.
The Shenzhou-10 is China's fifth manned spacecraft and the first application-orientated flight under China's space program since the country introduced its manned space program in 1992.
The astronauts are to conduct a manual docking with the space module during their journey, as well as give a lecture to students on Earth.
China is the third country after the United States and Russia to acquire the technologies and skills necessary for space rendezvous and docking procedures and to supply manpower and materials for an orbiting module via different docking methods.
The Tiangong-1 space lab has been in orbit for about 620 days and will remain in service for three more months. It is the first step in building a permanent space station, a goal to be done by 2020.
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