On Monday, China sent two astronauts into space with an orbiting space lab. At about 7:30 a.m. local time, astronaut Chen Dong and mission commander Jing Haipeng took off aboard the manned Shenzhou-11 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northern China. This is just a step towards China’s goal of operating its first space station by the year 2022.
The launch was witnessed by both foreign and local media. The report, according to Bloomberg, says that Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong were selected from a shortlisted group of 20. Their primary task is to test equipment and ensure if China is ready for a long-term stay outside Earth. Throughout the mission, a wide range of technology from exercise equipment, food and broadband links will be used.
Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft, longest mission yet
General Zhang Youxia of the People’s Liberation Army and member of the Central Military Mission, said the launch was a success and that the equipment was in good condition for the mission.
The crew aboard the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft is reportedly expected to spend 33 days in space. Thirty of those will be spent in the simpler space lab that was launched just last month, the Tiangong-2.
President Xi Jinping, ‘launch is a milestone in China’s work’
The launch is a pride of China. Space Agency Deputy Director Wu Gang of China said that the entire mission was planned and executed by Chinese staff. He further said that the mission is of high value since it will help further develop the country’s goal.
At a press conference, President Xi Jinping congratuled the team and said that the launch was a milestone in China’s work on manned space mission. Although he mentioned that they still have a “long way to go” in making China strong in space exploration, report says.
WATCH: China launches Shenzou-11 manned spacecraft in Northwest China via verified CCTV News YouTube channel
China, the world’s second-largest economy, plans to send astronauts to the moon by about 2025 and land an unmanned vehicle on Mars. With its race with the U.S., Russia and Asian countries’ India and Japan, we have yet to see developments and fulfillment to its plans.