According to China's manned space agency (CMSA) on the 30th, Shenzhou 15, carrying three astronauts, was launched into space at 11:08 p.m. the previous night (Korea time, 30th, 0:08 p.m.) at the Zhuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province. Shenzhou 15 landed at 5:42 a.m. (6:42 a.m. Korean time) on the 30th, 6 hours and 30 minutes after the launch, and succeeded in docking with the core module.
Tiangung is designed as a T-shaped structure that combines two laboratory modules Wen Tian and Meng Tian on both sides, centering on the core module "Tianhe." The three astronauts who arrived at Tian Gong were welcomed by three who were staying at Shenzhou 14. The Shenzhou 15 astronaut will remain in orbit for the next six months before returning to Earth in May next year. It said it will carry out more than 40 tests and tests in space science research, application, space medicine and space technology. This is the last step in the construction of Tiangong, and China is aiming for the end of the year. At the same time, it is expected to serve as an opportunity to launch a long-term orbit around the space station. China is speeding up space development. Since the launch of China's first Dalgyodo ship Chang'e 1 in October 2007, it has steadily jumped into lunar exploration. In 2010, Chang'e 2 completed a map of the moon landing site, and Chang'e 3 succeeded in landing on the moon in 2014. Then, in 2019, it landed on the back of the moon for the first time in the world with Chang' The following year, Chang'e 5 returned after collecting lunar samples. Furthermore, China plans to build a lunar base in 2030 to allow astronauts to stay at all times.
The U.S. is wary of China's space rise. It was evaluated as "threatening" because it believes that space development is being carried out for military purposes. According to CNBC and Central News Agency, Lt. Gen. Nina Armano of the U.S. Space Force said at a military forum hosted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Sydney, "China has made remarkable progress in developing space for military purposes such as satellite communication and reusable spacecraft." He noted that China is the only country with all of its economic, diplomatic, military and technological capabilities to rebuild the international order, with the prospect of overtaking the U.S. For now, the United States, with the Artemis project at the forefront, is ahead of space development. The U.S. plans to use the moon as an "outpost" for space exploration. Orion, the first lunar probe of Artemis, has broken Apollo 13's long-range flight record since its launch on the 16th and is on a mission to explore the moon. In terms of space stations, not only NASA but also private companies are working on the U.S. space station. Earlier this year, NASA astronauts set the longest space flight record of 355 days.
Thus, it became important for countries’ governments to get together; each sector, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Industry and Energy, etc. need to get together to establish strategies together.
Writer: Soyun Lee
(Picture from Unsplash)
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