China has been attracting a lot of attention lately with its space studies. As we said before, the country is establishing the Tiengong (Sky palace) Space Station in Earth orbit. The Shincou-13 taikonaut team sent to the station walked in space for the second time.
THEY WALKED IN SPACE AND TURNED
According to the statement made by the China Manned Space Program Agency (CMSA), taikonauts Cai Cigang and Yi Guangfu completed the spacewalk that they started yesterday evening at 00:55 local time and returned to the main module.
Taykonot Vang Yaping provided internal support to his teammates during off-vehicle activities.
The fourth spacewalk for the installation of the space station was the second extravehicular activity of the new taikonaut team sent to the station as part of the Shincou-13 mission.
During the spacewalk, the Taykonaut crew tested the main module’s airlock cabin, spacesuit and transport systems, and performed missions using the space station’s mechanical arm and other non-vehicle support means.
In addition, evaluations were made about the coordination and communication possibilities between the taikonauts inside and outside, the space station and the ground control center.
It was noted that the taikonauts will continue their spacewalks and extravehicular activities in the new year to improve the functions of the station.
CHINA’S PLAN TO BUILD A SPACE STATION
China is working to establish its own space station, as the United States forbids cooperation in space exploration and prevents its participation in the International Space Station (ISS) program.
Consisting of a core module, two laboratory modules and a space telescope, the station will, when completed, be approximately the same size as Russia’s now defunct Mir Space Station.
China launched the core module of the station, called Tienhi (Heavenly harmony), on April 29. Then, on 29 May, a supply voyage was organized to the station with the cargo shuttle Tiencou-2 (Skyship-2).
The first taikonaut team, consisting of Nie Haysing, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo, was sent to the station on June 17 by the Shuttle Shincou-12 (Holy ship-12).
The Shincou-13 space shuttle, carrying the taikonauts Cai Cigang, Wang Yaping and Yi Guangfu, was launched on October 15, and the team started on October 17.
Laboratory modules named “Vintien” (Searching the Sky) and “Mingtien” (Dreaming the Sky), which will form the main skeleton of the station, will be sent into space in 2022.
After the main skeleton is built, the space telescope called “Shuntien” (Wandering the Sky) in the following years will be added to the station as a separate module.
In order for the station to be completed in 2022, 4 manned flights and 4 cargo flights are planned. (AA)