China has finalized its astronaut crews for the upcoming Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed missions, poised to advance the country's ambitious space program this year. Yang Yuguang, vice chair of the International Astronautical Federation's Space Transportation Committee, confirmed the selection during an interview with China Media Group, though the astronauts' identities remain undisclosed.
The crews are undergoing rigorous training ahead of their six-month stay aboard China's Tiangong Space Station, where they will conduct scientific experiments and perform spacewalks. 'Both primary and backup teams are prepared for high-intensity challenges,' Yang emphasized.
The missions will coincide with the launch of the Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft to support the station's operations. Space enthusiasts are also in for a treat: Yang revealed China plans debut launches of its lightweight Qingzhou cargo ship in 2024, designed for rapid resupply missions to the orbital outpost.
This follows China's recent expansion of international cooperation in space exploration, with researchers from multiple countries and regions participating in joint experiments aboard Tiangong.
Reference(s):
China finalizes crew list for Shenzhou-20, Shenzhou-21 space missions
cgtn.com
