Ladies and gentlemen. Good morning!

Yesterday, the Mission Headquarter held a meeting to evaluate and confirm the launching plan of SZ-16 spacecraft and its crew members.

Today, we are pleasure to have Mr. LIN Xiqiang, Spokesman of China Manned Space Program and Deputy Director General of China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) to brief you about the relevant information and answer your questions.

Now, I will pass the floor to Mr. LIN Xiqiang.

Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!

As commissioned by the Mission Headquarters, I take this chance to brief you about the Shenzhou-16 manned spaceflight mission. As evaluated and decided by the Mission Headquarters, Shenzhou-16 manned spaceship is targeted to launch at 9:31, May 30th, Beijing time. Crew members are Haipeng Jing, Yangzhu Zhu and Haichao Gui，with Haipeng Jing, as the mission commander.Astronaut Haipeng Jing,has flown Shenzhou-7\9\11 manned spaceflight missions. Yangzhu Zhu and Haichao Gui will this time have their first spaceflight. Currently, Long March 2F-Y16 carrier rocket will be filled with propellant for this mission.This mission is the 2nd of this year’s manned spaceflight and the first one of the space station application and development phase.Following main objectives are set for the mission: on-orbit crew handover with SZ-15 crew; about 5-month stay on the space station; to carry out experiments and tests of space science and application payload; to perform extravehicular activities and cargo-out tasks from airlock module; extravehicular payload installation and space station maintenance and repair tasks; etc..According to the plan, Shenzhou 16 spacecraft will execute, after entering the orbit，the fast autonomous rendezvous and docking procedures. The spacecraft will dock with the nadir port of the Tianhe core module, to form a three-module and three-ship combination.During the stay, the Shenzhou-16 crew will welcome the visiting and docking of Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship. The crew are planned to returned to the Dongfeng Landing Site in November this year.At present, the space station combination is in stable status, with all equipment functioning well. Product qualities of Shenzhou-16 spaceship and Long March 2F-Y16 carrier rocket are under control. The Shenzhou 16 crew is in good condition. Facilities and equipment of ground systems perform well. All pre-launch preparations are in order. Shenzhou-15 crew plans to return to the Dongfeng Landing Site after completing their on-orbit handover with SZ-16 crew.

This is the brief of the mission. Now I’m glad to answer your questions.

1. What are the features of the SZ-16 crew and what preparations have been made for this mission? Will there be more and more "newcomers" selected in the future?

Thanks for your question.

China Space Station has completed its construction and moved to the application and development phase.SZ-16 crew is the first crew of this phase, consisting 1 first-batch astronaut and 2 third-batch astronauts.Space pilot Haipeng Jing and flight engineer Yangzhu Zhu are from Astronaut Corps. They are mainly in charge of the direct operation and management of spacecraft, as well as conducting related technical tests.Payload expert Haichao Gui is a professor at Beihang University. He is mainly responsible for the on-orbit operation of space science experimental payloads and has professional training and experience in the field of science and space engineering.

Compared to previous crews, the SZ-16 crew bears 3 features: first, ‘comprehensive’. For the first time a crew includes 3 types of astronauts ‘space pilot, flight engineer, and payload expert’; second, ‘new’. It is the first flight mission of third-batch astronauts and the first one of flight engineer and payload expert; third, ‘most’. Astronaut Haipeng Jing is on his fourth mission and will set a record for most spaceflights in China to date.After the confirmation of SZ-16 crew members in June, 2022, 3 astronauts fully carried out eight categories of more than 200 intensive trainings and mission preparation. Facing the large-scale in-orbit application tasks in the new phase of the project, they have received target training of space experiments and tests, space station assembly management and payload-out tasks.On the basis of crew joint training, the two third-batch astronauts who performed the mission for the first time further improved their operation and adaptability through targeted training of key subjects, and made comprehensive preparations for the mission.In September 2020, China completed the selection of the third batch astronauts, including 7 space pilots, 7 flight engineers and 4 payload experts.After more than two years of hard training, they have completed the training plan, passed the flight qualification assessment. All have the ability and conditions to perform the mission. The third batch of astronauts have started the targeted training for missions in the application and development stage of the space station, and will become the backbone of the follow-up missions of China's manned spaceflight project. It can be said that in the future, more and more "newcomers" will be selected for flight crew and continue to carry out manned space missions.

 

2. As the first manned spaceflight mission of CSS’s application and development phase, what are the main tasks of SZ-16 crew?

Thanks for your question.

China Space Station has entered the stage of application and development. The crew rotation and cargo resupply will be implemented on a regular basis, and the on-orbit work schedule of the crew will also tend to be regularized. mainly including the following six tasks:

First, to operate the human spacecraft’s rendezvous and docking and return, to support the docking and evacuation of cargo spaceship, survey telescope and other visiting spacecraft, to ensure the normal rotation of personnel and materials resupply

Second, the care of the space station assembly platform, including spacecraft status settings, in-orbit material management, platform equipment maintenance inspection, installation of equipment inside and outside the module, cargo-in and out tasks, etc. to ensure the safe and stable operation of the space station platform;

Third, the crew's own health management, including health status monitoring, in-orbit exercise training, etc., to ensure astronauts’ healthy work and life in orbit.

Fourth, to carry out in-orbit experiments and tests, using the space station application facilities inboard and outboard to carry out large-scale scientific research and applications, to ensure the application benefits of space station;

Fifth, to carry out popular science education and public welfare activities, including Tiangong classroom lectures, public welfare video shooting, etc., to maximize the comprehensive benefits of the space station;

Sixth, the disposal of abnormal conditions, including the emergency disposal of in-orbit failures, in-orbit repair and replacement of faulty equipment, and extravehicular maintenance operations by EVA when necessary, to ensure the long-term stable operation of the space station.

During the Shenzhou 16 mission, there will be two docking and evacuation returns, namely, the return of Shenzhou 15 human spacecraft, the re-docking and evacuation of Tianzhou 5 cargo spaceship, and the docking of Shenzhou 17 human spacecraft; The installation of electric propulsion cylinders, extravehicular camera lift and other platform care work will be carried out; the installation of large extravehicular application facilities such as radiobiology exposure experimental devices, general test devices of extravehicular components and assemblies will be completed, and large-scale in-orbit experiments in multiple fields will be carried out as planned, which are expected to produce high-level scientific results in the study of novel quantum phenomena, space high-precision time-frequency systems, verification of general relativity and the study of the origin of life; The Tiangong classroom teaching activities will also be carried out, so that human spaceflight can once again enter the classrooms of primary and middle schools. In addition, this mission crew is composed of three types of astronauts for the first time, and will also accumulate experience for the follow-up mission arrangement.

 

3. Can you tell us about the international cooperation arrangements and considerations for the next step of the project? Is there any new progress in the training of international astronauts and even the cooperation in entering the China Space Station?

Thanks for your attention to the project’s international cooperation.

‘To explore the unknown universe, and develop space technology’ is the common cause of human beings, and international cooperation is the trend of space development. During the development and construction of China Space Station, we have always adhered to the principles of peaceful utilization, equality, mutual benefit and common development, and have carried out various exchanges and cooperation with many space agencies and international organizations. On the one hand, we are steadily advancing our existing international cooperation projects with the United Nations Department for Outer Space Affairs, the European Space Agency and other agencies according to the established plan. We are carrying out these projects successively in China space station. We will continue to deepen partnerships with established mechanisms. On the other hand, we will actively expand cooperation and exchanges with emerging space countries, focusing on space station scientific experiments and applications, joint participation of international and Chinese astronauts in China Space Station missions. In addition, we actively participate in discussions and rule-making on international issues such as space environment governance, space traffic management, and space resources development and utilization, contributing to humanity's efforts to address common challenges in the field of outer space.

At present, China's space station has been fully completed, and it has entered a stage of application and development for more than ten years. We have a complete near-Earth human space station and human round-trip transportation system; and a mature astronaut selection, training and support system. Human spaceflight mission will be carried out twice a year on a regular basis. It can be said that the conditions are fully equipped to carry out related work. Currently, we are also actively carrying out the relevant preparations, I also very much look forward to and welcome international astronauts to participate in China Space Station mission.

 

4. The SZ 15 crew has been working and living on orbit for nearly half a year. How is their task accomplished? What other jobs are there before their returning? At present, the first two batches of Chinese astronauts in service have all realized their dream of flying. If these astronauts enter space again, how long will it take?

Thanks for your concern for astronauts.

On November 29th last year, Shenzhou 15 spacecraft was launched into orbit. At present, the astronaut crew has been working and living in orbit for 181 days. Various in-orbit work is progressing smoothly. They have successfully completed four EVA missions, becoming the crew with the highest number of EVA; They have also carried out several cargo missions, 8 human factors engineering technology studies, 28 space medical experiments, and 38 space science tests/experiments, covering the fields of life ecology, material science, hydromechanics, etc., and acquired valuable experiment data. At present, they are carrying out the preparation work before the Shenzhou 16 crew’s moving in and Shenzhou 15 spacecraft’s return in an intense and orderly manner. Before the return of Shenzhou-15 crew, they need to continue to carry out part of the space science in-orbit experiment and test, complete the collection of experiment samples before returning, disposal and inventory of download items;  after the moving-in of Shenzhou-16 crew, the two crews will complete the handover and rotation in orbit. Then SZ-15 will return to the ground. As the "dream crew", they will deliver a satisfactory "dream" answer sheet to our motherland and people. After returning to the ground from a long-term mission in orbit, astronauts usually need six months to recover from their post-flight physical condition, and after their conditions are assessed to be met, the astronauts can be transferred to normal work and training status to participate in the next round of flight crew selection. After being selected, they are generally ready to fly again after about 1 to 1.5 years of training. I believe that we will see them back in space soon in follow up missions.

5. At present, the China Space Station has been fully built. Is the next development goal of the project to land on the moon? When can the human moon landing goal be achieved?

Thanks for your question.

Chang'e flying to the moon" is a household legend in China. “To embrace the moon from the ninth heaven” is the vivid portray of Chinese people who dare to overcome difficulties and challenge themselves. At present, China has fully completed and started to operate the space station, but the Chinese people will explore space farther. Recently, the mission of human lunar exploration project in China has been launched and implemented, following main objectives are set: By 2030, Chinese people will land on the Moon for the first time, carry out lunar scientific research and related technical testing, break through and master key technologies such as earth-moon human round-trip, lunar surface short-term stay, and human robotic joint exploration. We will complete the multiple tasks of "landing, orbiting, sampling, research and return" and form an independent human lunar exploration capability, promote the leapfrog development of human space technology from near Earth to deep space, deepen human understanding of the origin and evolution of the Moon and the solar system, and contribute Chinese wisdom to the development of lunar science.

In view of this goal, the CMSE Office has comprehensively deployed and carried out various research and development work on the basis of preliminary key technology research and program demonstration. Including the research and development of a new generation of human launch vehicles(CZ-10), a new generation flight products including human spacecraft, lunar surface landers, lunar landing suits, etc., and new launch site related test and launch facilities and equipment. Subsequently, we will focus on scientific management, competition and selection, open cooperation, and solidly promote the development and construction work to ensure that the goal of landing Chinese people on the moon will be achieved on schedule. In addition, we will release relevant announcements for the call for proposals on scientific payloads and human lunar rover program, and call for names for the new generation of human spacecraft and lunar lander etc. Please stay tunned.

6. The selection of the fourth batch of preparatory astronauts in China has started. How's it going so far? Can you tell us more about the selection? In particular, the progress of the selection of payload experts from Hong Kong and Macao? When can we expect to see Hong Kong and Macau astronauts’ participation in space station missions at the earliest?

In order to meet the needs of follow-up tasks of human space project, China's fourth batch of preparatory astronaut selection has been fully launched in 2022, in accordance with the primary selection, re-election, final selection of three stages of organization and implementation. We plan to select 12 to 14 preparatory astronauts, including space pilots, flight engineers, payload experts. For the first time we will select payload experts in Hong Kong and Macao.By March 2023, the primary selection has been completed, and more than 100 candidates have entered the re-election stage. Among them, space pilots are active pilots of the armed forces. Flight engineers and payload experts are mainly from industry and universities. In particular, more than 10 candidates from Hong Kong and Macao have entered the re-election.

Generally speaking, the fourth batch selection are progressing in an orderly manner as planned, and all selections are planned to be completed before the end of this year.  If candidates from Hongkong and Macau could pass the re-election and final selection, they will enter China Astronaut Research and Training Center in the beginning of next year. Generally, they will spend about two and a half years on training and pass the assessment to carry out flight mission. However, the timing should be considered according to the general planning, mission requirements and the progress of the space application project. I believe that in the near future, we will be able to see payload experts from Hongkong and Macau perform the flight mission.

 

7. May I ask the mission arrangement after the space station is fully completed and enters the application and development stage?

Currently, the space station has been fully completed and has entered an application and development phase lasting more than 10 years. In this phase, astronauts will stay on the space station continuously for a long duration, normally with two crew rotations and 1-2 cargo resupply every year. On the basis of ensuring the safe and stable operation of the space station, the main tasks of the application and development phase can be summarized in two aspects: "application" and "development". In terms of applications: in order to promote the comprehensive development of China's space science, space applications and space technology, we will make full use of inboard experiment racks, outboard payloads, survey telescope and other facilities already installed on space station, to implement nearly 1,000 scientific research and applications on a rolling basis in the following four fields: space life sciences and human research, microgravity physical science, space astronomy and earth science, new space technology and applications. We will carry out large-scale space science experiments and technology tests.

We will publicly release the announcement and guidelines for the call for scientific and application projects of the space station. Through continuous call for projects and expanding the scope, we strive to achieve full operation of space station application resources as soon as possible and consistently produce high-level application results. In terms of development: To further enhance the comprehensive capability and technology of the project in near Earth orbit, we will coordinate the human lunar exploration mission, develop a new generation of reusable near-Earth human launch vehicles and a new generation of near-Earth human spacecraft. To further support scientific experiments in orbit, and to create better working and living conditions for astronauts, we will launch extended module in due course, and upgrade the space station from "T" shape to "cross" shape. To further reduce the cost and enhance the flexibility of cargo upload transportation, we have issued a call for proposals for the overall low-cost cargo transportation system for the space station, and will subsequently carry out the development and flight verification of the best solutions.