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BEIJING (AP) — China has unveiled the crew for the upcoming Shenzhou 20 mission, a three-person team set to embark on a journey to the nation’s space station. This mission underscores China’s escalating ambition in the realm of space exploration.
Shenzhou 20 Crew Announcement
According to Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director General of the China Manned Space Agency, the Shenzhou 20 mission will be staffed by astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie. They are slated to relieve the current crew aboard the Chinese space station, undertaking a similar six-month tenure.
Launch Details
The launch is scheduled for Thursday evening (China time) from the Jiuquan launch center, situated in the Gobi Desert’s edge in northwestern China.
Astronaut Profiles
- The outgoing three-person crew, who were launched in October of the previous year, have spent 175 days in space.
Meet the Team
- Chen Dong, a veteran of the Shenzhou 11 and Shenzhou 14 missions, will serve as the group leader.
- Chen Zhongrui, formerly an air force pilot, and Wang Jie, an engineer from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, will both be making their inaugural voyages into space.
Chen Dong’s Perspective
“I feel incomparable pride and accomplishment to again venture into space for my country,” Chen Dong told reporters Wednesday. “Each journey to space is unparalleled, and I’m looking forward to gaining more experience and achieving more breakthroughs through this flight.”
Mission Objectives
During his previous Shenzhou 14 mission, Chen Dong spearheaded the construction of the space station.
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In orbit, the astronauts are tasked with several critical objectives:
- Conducting experiments in space medicine and space technology.
- Undertaking extravehicular activities.
- Implementing enhancements to the space station.
China’s Space Ambitions
China’s pursuit of its space station stemmed from its exclusion from the International Space Station (ISS), a consequence of U.S. national security concerns related to the People’s Liberation Army’s control over the nation’s space program.
China’s space program has seen remarkable advancements in recent years, including:
- Landing an explorer on Mars.
- Deploying a rover on the far side of the moon.
- Aiming to land a person on the moon before 2030.
Return to Earth
The returning astronauts are anticipated to land on April 29.