18 October 2021
In this week's episode, Jean Deville and Blaine Curcio reflect on 3 main topics: the 100 m VTVL hop test with Deep Blue Aerospace's Nebula-M rocket; the docking of the Shenzhou 13 space craft with the Tianhe core module of the Chinese Space Station and the recent launch of 11 satellites by the CZ-2D.
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18 October 2021
As part of contingency planning, the Shenzhou 14 spacecraft and the CZ-2F Y14 were readied in case of a need to response to emergency. The crewed space ship and rocket could be ready within 8 1/2 days to conduct a rescue mission for the SZ-13 crew. SZ-14 and SZ-13 were built and tested simultaneously and underwent the same preparations at the launch side, apart from being fuelled and transferred to the launch pad. Also, CALT has a list of emergency launch personnel and liaison staff which would report for duty within hours.
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16 October 2021
Shenzhou 13 spacecraft conducted a fast successful automated rendezvous and docking with the radial port of the space station core module Tianhe at 6:56 BJT on 16 October. The whole process took approximately 6.5 h. After a series of preparations, Zhai Zhigang opened the hatch of the Tianhe core module. At 9:58 BJT, Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu entered the core module one after the other.
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Short animation of launch and docking of Shenzhou 13 as well as current configuration of Chinese orbital complex.
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Footage of Shenzhou 13 spacecraft in different test facilities
15 October 2021
Commander Zero is the job of leading the launch countdown team and to initiate, supervise and to do the actually count down to ignition for the launch of the Shenzhou 13 crewed mission. Who's the Commander Zero of China's Shenzhou 13 manned spaceship launch mission? What will he do during the launch? Meet Commander Zero before the launch.
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15/16 October 2021
The Shenzhou 13 mission to the Tiangong space station launched in the early morning of the 16 October BJT, marking the start of the China's longest spaceflight. The CZ-2F took off at 00:23 BJT on 16 October (16:23 UTC - 15 October). After entering orbit, the Shenzhou 13 spaceship will dock with the in-orbit combination composed of the space station core module Tianhe and the cargo crafts Tianzhou 2 and Tianzhou 3.
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See-off ceremony held for Chinese astronauts on Shenzhou 13 mission
15 October 2021
Crew members of the upcoming Shenzhou 13 mission will become the first Chinese to spend the nation's most important festival－Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year－in outer space. "It's my understanding that the mission command has prepared a large package of New Year gifts for us, but we don't know what they are," crew member Wang Yaping said at a press meeting on 14 October. "I am really looking forward to enjoying the special festival, and I am sure the gifts will be full of surprises and wonders.
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Fotogallery from Shenzhou 13 crew training