The China Manned Space Engineering Office revealed on the 4th that the Shenzhou 14 flight crew is composed of astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and caixuzhe, and three astronauts will be stationed in the core module and stay in orbit for six months. This is the construction phase of China's space station. It is the second flight mission after the successful launch of Tianzhou 4 cargo spacecraft in may2022, and it is also the first manned flight mission of this phase. The assembly and construction of the space station will be completed in orbit.
Since 1992, when the "three-step" development strategy for the implementation of the manned space project was made, Shenzhou 14 is now ready to go. The Chinese dream of flying into the sky extends further into the sky.
What are the main tasks of the Shenzhou 14 flight crew? What are the selection criteria? What's new in space? Huangweifen, chief designer of the astronaut system of China's manned space project and researcher of China's astronaut research and training center, was interviewed by Xinhua news agency.
Huangweifen, chief designer of the astronaut system of China's manned space project and researcher of China's astronaut research and training center, was interviewed by Xinhua news agency. (photographed by Xinhua News Agency reporter meiyuanlong)
9 combinations, 5 rendezvous and docking...... the Shenzhou 14 crew has a complex and arduous task
Reporter: what are the main tasks of the Shenzhou 14 flight crew? Does the task of building a space station require more astronauts?
Huangweifen: this year, we will have two manned missions, one during the construction phase of our space station. The Shenzhou 14 flight crew will perform the first manned mission during the construction phase of the space station. It is of great significance and is very difficult for them.
During the six-month flight, the astronauts have to experience extremely complex flight conditions, including 9 combinations, 5 rendezvous and docking, 3 separation and evacuation, and 2 transposition missions. In this process, they should monitor the status, and implement manual control operation for rendezvous and docking when necessary; It will also be the first time to enter the two experimental modules, the sky asking module and the dreamtime module, to complete the establishment of the manned environment; We will also complete the unlocking and installation of more than a dozen scientific experiment cabinets in these two cabins; And daily assembly, construction, maintenance and repair.
It is worth noting that they will use the airlock for the first time. We plan to do 2 to 3 times of extravehicular activities, which is the first time to use the small mechanical arm of the sky inquiry experimental module to carry out extravehicular activities. After that, the combined arm of forearm and forearm will be used for out of cabin activities. These are all new states, which are very challenging for astronauts. They will also teach in space and carry out other space education activities and public welfare activities.
Therefore, the mission of the Shenzhou 14 crew this time is extremely complex, and the requirements for the astronauts' emergency and fault handling capabilities are also higher than before.
On June 4, Chen Dong (middle), Liu Yang (right) and caixuzhe, three astronauts on the Shenzhou 14 manned mission, met with media reporters at the sky Pavilion of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and answered their questions. (photographed by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ligang)
The common feature of the three astronauts is that they are very serious. The fourth and fifth batches of astronauts will be selected in the future
Reporter: what are the rules and considerations for the selection of astronauts for the Shenzhou 14 crew?
Huangweifen: according to the overall plan of the project, there are four manned missions in the key technology verification and construction stage of the space station. On the basis of summarizing the early selection experience, we adjusted the selection strategy according to the mission characteristics of the space station stage, and determined and selected the flight crew for these four missions according to the principles of overall planning, new and old collocation, inheritance and development. We selected astronauts with flight experience to serve as the commander, which is the case for each crew.
During the crew selection, we analyzed the characteristics of each mission and the requirements of key tasks for astronauts, such as extravehicular activities. At the same time, the matching of each astronaut's individual characteristics and tasks, as well as their psychological compatibility with each other are considered, so as to form a suitable crew. We should consider age, flight experience and other factors, and finally determine comprehensively.
The three astronauts are very serious, meticulous, love to learn and study, have a team spirit and have good compatibility.
The three of them also have different characteristics. Chen Dong, as the commander, is very confident, bold and resolute. They often put forward their own opinions and suggestions in training and experiments. Liu Yang is very friendly and has strong language skills. Caixuzhe is very smart, has strong comprehension ability, and accepts new things and new knowledge quickly.
At present, we have selected three groups of astronauts and will select the fourth and fifth groups in the future. The construction of the astronaut team should always take into account the overall planning of the national manned space project, the corresponding mission needs and the current situation of the astronaut team. We will regularly select new astronauts to join the space team at regular intervals.
According to the needs of the mission, we will expand the population of candidates and train astronauts of various types of experts, so that the astronaut team will always maintain an appropriate scale, reasonable structure and excellent comprehensive quality, which can meet the current and future development needs.
On May 29, the Shenzhou 14 manned spacecraft and the Long March 2 F remote 14 carrier rocket assembly were on their way to the launch area. Issued by Xinhua News Agency (photographed by wangjiangbo)
Focus on risks, carry out targeted training, and continuously improve astronauts' space clothing, food, housing and transportation
Reporter: you just mentioned that the Shenzhou 14 mission is arduous and complex. What targeted training have we conducted for astronauts? What's new about food, clothing, housing and transportation?
Huangweifen: since March, 2017, we have comprehensively shifted our training to preparing for the construction of the space station. Some trainings are common. Based on the training of more than 100 subjects in eight categories, we have conducted intensive training focusing on the new characteristics, new tasks, new states and new changes of Shenzhou 14 mission, focusing on key tasks, such as low-pressure environment extravehicular activity training, extravehicular activity program simulator training, and coordinated training and drill by using virtual reality trainer and manipulator operation training platform, Make them master the skills of out of cabin activities.
There is also targeted training on focusing risks, because with the completion of the space station, the combination becomes more and more complex, and the flight time is also very long, so the probability of problems will increase. In view of these risks, we need to carry out emergency and fault handling training. For example, we have strengthened the emergency fault handling ability through the deduction of fault plan learning, practical training and drill, so that astronauts can handle these emergency conditions calmly, calmly and effectively.
The last is to carry out continuous intensive training for long-term flight stay, such as material management, physical training, psychological adjustment training, etc.
In addition, the two crew members shall work and live on orbit at the same time. I think it is mainly a challenge to the space station system, such as the regeneration support system.
For astronauts, there was a 180 day manned comprehensive verification experiment in the space station during the experiment of the ground assembly. Each crew lived and worked in an experimental module of the space station for 30 days. We also carried out the rotation work experiment of Shenzhou 14 and Shenzhou 15.
In the future, the crew rotation will be normal. The on orbit rotation of Shenzhou 14 and Shenzhou 15 will lay a foundation and accumulate experience for the future.
Moreover, the astronauts' basic necessities of life in space should be continuously improved, because basic necessities of life have a great impact on flight. Astronauts should live, live and work well, and provide them with all kinds of good guarantees and conveniences.
For example, raisins are added to the food this time because they are convenient to eat, not very juicy, and the meat is dense. Wash it clean and you can eat it.
We started from Shenzhou 13 and provided the astronauts with personalized clothes, and so did Shenzhou 14.
Shenzhou 12 and Shenzhou 13 completed their missions successfully and were in good condition after their return. Their outstanding performance in orbit flight has verified the scientific and effective selection and training technology and resident support technology of our country, and also showed that we have the resident support ability to enable astronauts to complete long-term flight. The successful practice of these two tasks is very helpful for our follow-up improvement.