Spokeswoman of China Manned Space Program：Wu Ping
Ladies and gentlemen, journalist friends, good afternoon:
Commissioned by the Mission Headquarters, I’d like to introduce the situation of the Tiangong 1/Shenzhou 10 Manned Spaceflight mission. The Mission Headquarters has decided after discussion that Shenzhou 10 Manned Spaceship will be launched at 17 hours 38 minutes on June 11th and the crew consists of male astronauts Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and female astronaut Wang Yaping. Nie Haisheng is the commander. The Long March 2F Y10 rocket for this launching mission is going to start propellant loading this afternoon.
The main objectives of this mission are as follows: First, to launch Shenzhou 10 Manned Spaceship and provide crew and cargo transportation service for the orbit operation of Tiangong 1 target vehicle, thus further verify the rendezvous and docking technology as well as the function and performance of the space transportation system. Second, to further verify the supporting capability of Tiangong 1 for the life, work and health of astronauts as well as the capabilities of astronauts in carrying out space missions. Third, to carry out astronaut space environment adaptability and space operation ergonomics study, conduct space science experiments, spacecraft on-orbit maintenance experiments, and the first space class by taikonauts. Fourth, to further test the function and performance as well as the coordination of various systems of the engineering project.
The First News Conference on the Tiangong 1/Shenzhou 10 Manned Spaceflight Mission
The status of each system of the mission is basically the same with that of Shenzhou 9 mission. To further improve the safety, reliability and to be suitable for the specific requirements of this mission, partial technical alterations have been made in Shenzhou 10 spaceship and Long March 2F Y10 rocket. During this mission, taikonauts will change and repair some of the equipments and facilities in Tiangong 1 through on-orbit operations.
In this mission, the spaceship is scheduled to fly in space for 15 days. After entering into the orbit, the spaceship will carry out one auto rendezvous and docking and one astronaut manual rendezvous and docking according to the scheduled procedure. During the flight of the complex, taikonauts will enter and stay in Tiangong 1, conduct space medicine experiments, technology experiments and space class activities, etc. After the flight of the complex, the spaceship will retreat and return to the landing site, while Tiangong 1 will maneuver to long-term operation orbit.
Now, Tiangong 1 is operating in the scheduled rendezvous and docking orbit. The status is stable, equipments work normally, and expendable resources such as propellant are adequate, which can satisfy the requirements of rendezvous and docking mission and astronaut habitation. Integrated rehearsal involving various systems of Shenzhou 10 mission has completed, the crew is in good condition, and all the preparatory works before launch are completed.
That is the introduction of the situation of this mission. Next, I’d like to answer your questions.
(Editor: YangShuai)
