Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

China sends Shenzhou-22 spacecraft into orbit


(MENAFN) China successfully launched the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft on Tuesday, taking off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the country’s northwest, according to reports.

The spacecraft is scheduled to dock with China’s Tiangong space station, where three Chinese astronauts continue their space exploration activities.

The launch follows the return of the Shenzhou-21 mission last week, which brought back three astronauts nine days later than planned after their spacecraft was reportedly struck by space debris.

On November 5, the China Manned Space Agency noted that the crew’s return had been delayed due to a likely impact on Shenzhou-20 from small orbital debris, which “does not meet the requirements for the astronauts' safe return” and necessitated their remaining in orbit.

Shenzhou-21, China’s sixth crewed mission, carried three astronauts—including the country’s youngest-ever taikonaut—alongside four mice. The mice returned to Earth last week with the crew of Shenzhou-20.

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