China's New Generation Manned Spacecraft Completes Testing

Trial testing of the manned spacecraft was recently completed at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. The space vehicle is expected to be launched by the Long March 5B carrier rocket.

The rocket and the spacecraft were respectively developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and China Academy of Space Technology, the subsidiaries of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

According to the China Manned Space Agency, the new generation manned spacecraft will be able to carry out low-Earth orbit missions and further space exploration.

With brand new heat-resistant materials and structure, the new spacecraft has a heat-resisting ability three to four times better than that of the Shenzhou-series of spaceships.

The reentry control system will also guarantee accurate landings and a proper overload capacity which the astronauts can bear during the spaceship's returns to the Earth.

In addition, the new spacecraft will verify the "multiple parachutes plus air bag" landing mode, which is safer than the traditional ones.

The technologies lay a solid foundation for transport of astronauts between the Earth and the space station in the future.

Some technologies related to reusable spacecraft will also be tested. The new spacecraft's reentry capsule is intended to be reused 10 times and the developer is making efforts to lower its costs.

China's first single-stage semi-configuration large carrier rocket, the Long March 5B, was improved on the basis of the Long March 5 carrier rocket and will be used to launch manned space station cabins.

The new generation manned spacecraft is being developed for China's space station and future manned space projects. Compared with the Shenzhou-series of manned spaceships, the new ones have larger bodies and can be reused. In addition, they can carry both astronauts and cargo.

The body of the trial manned spacecraft [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)