Beijing, China – In a significant advancement for its space program, China successfully launched the Shenzhou-16 mission carrying three astronauts, including the first Chinese civilian, to its Tiangong space station on Tuesday. The momentous liftoff took place at 9:31 am local time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. The Shenzhou-16 crew soared into space atop a Long March 2F rocket, witnessed by AFP journalists and a crowd of enthusiastic onlookers.
Commander Jing Haipeng, a veteran astronaut on his fourth mission, led the crew, which also comprised engineer Zhu Yangzhu and Beihang University professor Gui Haichao, the first Chinese civilian to venture into space. The launch was hailed as a “complete success” by Zou Lipeng, director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, who confirmed that the astronauts were in good health.
China’s ambitious space program has been on an accelerated trajectory, with significant investments being made to rival the space capabilities of the United States and Russia. The country has already achieved notable milestones, such as becoming the third nation to send humans into orbit and landing robotic rovers on both Mars and the Moon. Tiangong, the centerpiece of China’s space exploration endeavors, has now received its first civilian occupant.
Tiangong, meaning “heavenly palace” in Chinese, represents China’s determination to establish itself as a spacefaring nation. With plans to send a crewed mission to the Moon by the end of the decade, China has been actively investing billions of dollars into its military-run space program. President Xi Jinping has been a driving force behind the nation’s “space dream,” envisioning the construction of a lunar base and lunar scientific exploration.
The docking of the Shenzhou-16 spacecraft with Tiangong’s core module, called Tianhe, is a critical step in the progression of China’s space program. The three-person crew will join their colleagues from the Shenzhou-15 flight, who have been stationed on the space station for the past six months. Upon their return to Earth, the Shenzhou-16 crew will engage in various experiments, including studies on high-precision space time-frequency systems, general relativity, and the origins of life.
The Tiangong space station has been equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments, including the world’s first space-based cold atomic clock system. As a testament to China’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge, the station is expected to remain in low Earth orbit, approximately 400 to 450 kilometers (250 to 280 miles) above the surface, for at least a decade. It will serve as a constant habitat for rotating teams of three astronauts.
China’s space ambitions have faced limitations due to its exclusion from the International Space Station since 2011 when the United States imposed a ban on NASA’s cooperation with China. As a result, China has focused its efforts on independently developing its own orbital outpost. Nevertheless, the China National Space Administration (CMSA) has expressed its willingness to collaborate with international partners on its space projects.
The success of the Shenzhou-16 mission marks another significant step for China’s burgeoning space program, bolstering its capabilities and paving the way for future space exploration endeavors. With plans for regular crew rotations and upcoming missions, including Shenzhou-17 scheduled for October, China is well on its way to realizing its ambitious space dreams and solidifying its position as a prominent player in space exploration.
