27 November 2022
The space fuel cell payload onboard the Tianzhou-5 cargo spacecraft has completed its in-orbit tests, marking the first time China has conducted such tests, according to Beijing Spacecraft Manufacturing Co., Ltd., the developer of the system under the CAST. The tests preliminarily validated the characteristics of the system under space conditions such as vacuum, low temperature and microgravity, providing important data and theoretical support for the development and key technology research of the space fuel cell energy system. The tests aim to provide support for the application of space fuel cell energy systems in the country's future major projects, including manned lunar exploration and deep space exploration.
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25 November 2022
CNSA announced on 24 November the international payloads that will fly on the CE-6 lunar exploration mission, and announced another call for international payload proposals for the CE-7 mission. CE-6 will host instruments from France, Italy and the European Space Agency/Sweden on the CE-6 lander, and a Pakistani payload on the orbiter. All payloads are on schedule in the development. CE-6 is scheduled for launch between 2024 and 2025.
At the same time, CNSA invited scientists from around the world to participate in the CE-7 mission, offering slots for 10 kg of payloads on the lander, and 15 kg of payloads on the orbiter.
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24 November 2022
On 24 November CNSA began to solicit worldwide important scientific questions in deep-space exploration. Themed "Gather Wisdom, Shape the Future", the solicitation aims to promote the development of deep-space exploration, form an international consensus on scientific questions in this field, and solve common problems and challenges facing humankind. The call for ideas is open to researchers in space exploration, amateurs, and the general public from all over the world. It will run until 31 January 2023. As a result, CNSA will draw up priority missions based on the solicited suggestions.
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24 November 2022
The Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S) - also called Kuafu 1 - has transmitted its first solar image since being sent to space in October. The data are a hard X-ray imaging of solar flares that broke out at 1:00 UTC on 11 November 2022, said Gan Weiqun, the satellite's principal scientist from Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Gan said the image was taken by the hard X-ray imager (HXI) payload. Although still in the testing period, the imaging effect is excellent.
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24 November 2022
Wu Weiren, Chief Designer of China's lunar exploration programme told media that China will carry out more deep-space exploration missions in the next 10 to 15 years. The 4th phase of CLEP will involve CE-6, CE-7 and CE-8. CE-6 is set to collect 2 kg of samples from the far side of the moon and bring them back to Earth. CE-7 is going to land on the moon's South Pole and will fly over permanently shaded areas in the search for water. CE-8 will be launched around 2028 and together with CE-7 will form the basis of a scientific research station at the South Pole. That station will include a lunar orbiter, lander, rover, a flying vehicle, and multiple scientific instruments.
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24 November 2022
The biggest challenge of her six months in space was the closed environment's effect on her mental state, said taikonaut Wang Yaping during a side event of the United Nations and China Global Partnership Workshop on Space Exploration and Innovation. Wang said that no matter how ordinary things are on Earth, they become a luxury in space. The moment I left the cabin it seemed that I was in another world that was astonishingly beautiful, unexpectedly profound, unimaginably tranquil, she added. "I deeply understood the connotation and extension of 'the human community with a shared future' during my flight missions, and that it is a common wish of people around the world to peacefully use space to benefit all." Wang stressed.
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