30 November 2022
Around 6 1/2 hours after launch, the SZ-15 spacecraft conducted a fast automated rendezvous and docked with the front port of the space station's Tianhe module and docked on 30 November at 5:42 BJT. SZ-14 commander, Chen Dong, opened the hatch at 7:33 BJT. The 3 space station occupants greeted the 3 new arrivals with warm hugs and then they took a group picture. The space reunion kicked off the first in-orbit crew rotation in China's space station.
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RELATED: Highlights of China's Shenzhou XV space mission
29 November 2022
The Shenzhou 15 mission launched on 29 November at 23:08 BJT. The CZ-2F Y15 carrier rocket took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. About 10 min after launch, SZ-15 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The crew members were in good shape and the launch was a complete success, CMSA declared. In the early morning hours of 30 November (BJT), the SZ-15 spacecraft docked with the CSS.
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29 November 2022
China will launch the SZ-15 crew on 29 November at 15:10 UTC (based on airspace closure announcements). The launch will take place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, using China's human-rated CZ-2F rocket. Jean Deville will be holding a pre-launch commentary (~1 hour), doing a deep dive on Shenzhou, the Long March 2F, and answering questions of the audience! He will be re-streaming the CCTV live feed. Join Jean for this exciting event on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN1hStqbKy8
28 November 2022
A number of space science application projects jointly selected by China and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) or with the European Space Agency (ESA) are being implemented as planned, and related payloads will be launched to get into China's space station for experiments next year. China will also welcome astronauts from other countries to enter its space station to conduct experiments, said Ji Qiming, CMSA assistant director, at a press conference on the occassion of the SZ-15 launch announcement.
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RELATED - China to provide training for foreign astronauts
Ji Qiming said several nations have expressed to China their wish to send their astronauts to the Tiangong station. "China is negotiating with relevant parties on this matter. We are actively preparing for training work for foreign astronauts," he said. Also, according to designers at the China Academy of Space Technology, Tiangong is capable of connecting with other nations' spacecraft that have the same hatch design as that used by the Chinese space station.
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28 November 2022
CMSA announced at a press conference on 28 November the crew composition for the upcoming Shenzhou 15 mission to the CSS. Mission commander Fei Junlong will be accompanied by Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu. Fei once participated in the SZ-6 spaceflight mission and both Deng and Zhang are newcomers to space.
SZ-15 will be launched on 29 November at 23:08 BJT from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
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RELATED - Photo gallery Shenzhou 15 crew training
28 November 2022
China is going to recruit 12 to 14 new reserve taikonauts. The selection, which started in September, is open, for the first time, to payload experts from Hong Kong and Macao. It will be the 4th batch of the country's reserve astronauts. The preliminary selection is currently in progress. The reexamination and confirmation processes will be followed.
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