In a pivotal test that was only the second of its kind, China successfully fired its uncrewed next-generation crewed spaceship, Mengzhou, to demonstrate its ability to safely propel astronauts to safety in case of emergency.
The last such test, for China's Shenzhou spaceship, was conducted in 1998.A zero-altitude escape flight test was conducted at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Tuesday, as China Media Group reported, citing the China Manned Space Agency. The test sequence unfolded rapidly.
At 12:30 pm, the Mengzhou spacecraft's escape engines ignited, propelling the spacecraft-tower combination skyward under the thrust of solid rocket engines.
Approximately 20 seconds later, upon reaching its designated altitude, the return capsule swiftly separated from the escape tower, and its parachutes deployed precisely as planned.
By 12:32 pm, the return capsule had safely touched down in the designated test area, cushioned by its airbag system, marking a complete success.An emergency escape system is critical to astronaut safety and the success of any crewed launch mission.
Designed to activate the moment danger arises after astronauts are aboard the spacecraft, it provides a crucial last line of defense."This particular zero-altitude escape flight test verified the capability to escape even if a critical danger, such as a rocket explosion, occurs directly on the launch tower," Yang Yuguang, chair of the Space Transportation Committee of the International Astronautical Federation, told CGTN.This test validated the design accuracy and compatibility of the emergency escape system, which includes separation and closed-loop control of the escape trajectory.
It also provided crucial real-flight parameters for future development. Compared to China's existing Shenzhou spaceship, Mengzhou's escape system now integrates and assumes overall responsibility for both escape and rescue functions.The Mengzhou spaceship is China's domestically designed next-generation spacecraft for crewed transportation between Earth and space.
Its modular design allows it to carry up to seven astronauts.
Mengzhou is engineered for both space station applications and future manned lunar missions.Meanwhile, China is also in the development of other key spacecraft for crewed lunar missions, including the Long March 10 carrier rocket and the lunar lander.
Related tests for these systems will be conducted as planned.