06 May 2020
The trial version of China's new-generation manned spaceship is now working normally in orbit, having completed a series of operations as planned, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) on 6 May. So far, the new spaceship, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology under the CASC, has unfolded its solar panels and positioned them toward the sun, deployed its relay antenna and established a relay communication link, as well as conducted autonomous orbit control four times. It is now in a stable flight attitude in a highly elliptical orbit, with the power supply, measurements and control links normal, said the CASC.
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06 May 2020
A flexible and inflatable cargo return capsule that China sent into space for test for the first time operated abnormally during its return to the ground on 6 May, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The reverse umbrella-shaped Flexible Inflatable Cargo Reentry Vehicle, first of its kind in China, was scheduled to make a parachute-assisted landing inside the Dongfeng Landing Site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region to finish its 19-hour journey. However, malfunctions took place during the re-entry process and experts are analyzing available data, the agency said in a brief statement, without giving details.
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06 May 2020
China's space station is scheduled to be completed around 2022, with 12 launch missions planned, Ji Qiming, assistant to the director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, said at a press conference on 5 May. The astronaut crew for the four flight missions necessary for the construction of the space station have been selected and are undergoing training, according to Ji. The selection of the third-batch reserve astronauts will be rolled out in the middle of this year. Meanwhile, China has completed the assembly of the space station's core module. The two experiment capsules and scientific payloads are under development.
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01 May 2020
The 5th CCAF - China (International) Commercial Aerospace Forum has taken place on 19 - 20 November 2019 in Wuhan. The forum has been a big success with many foreign and domestic space companies participating and presenting their work. GoTaikonauts! reports about the event in its latest issue no 28 - the issue which is dedicated to the citizens of Wuhan.
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05 May 2020
On 5 May, at 18:00 BJT China successfully launched the Long March 5B for the first time. Take-off was from LC1 of Wenchang Space Launch Site. 488 s later, the 20t-payload, an uncrewed test version of China's new generation manned spaceship with "a flexible inflatable cargo return module test cabin", entered orbit. The CZ-5B is specially developed for China's manned space programme and this launch marked the start of the space station project. The overall takeoff mass was about 849 t. The re-entry and landing of the re-turn capsule is expected for this week.
MORE in English on Spaceflight Now...
on Xinhua website with photo gallery
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CMSA website
CMSA Weibo
CASC Weibo - photos and replay of the launch
30 April 2020
Chang'e 4 lunar lander and Yutu 2 lunar rover concluded the operations of the 17th lunar day. Yutu 2 accumulated 447.68 m of traversing the far side of the Moon. During the 17th lunar day, Yutu 2 continued its exploration to the northwest of the probe's landing site and obtained a new batch of scientific detection data.
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