China's Shenzhou-18 crewed spacecraft is set to launch in the coming days, following a comprehensive full-system rehearsal conducted at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Sunday.
The Shenzhou-18 mission marks the 13th manned flight of China and the 18th overall in the Shenzhou program. The mission aims to transport three taikonauts to the China Space Station for a standard six-month stay, continuing China's advancements in space exploration.
The recent rehearsal meticulously followed real launch procedures, with the tower, rocket, spacecraft, and other subsystems undergoing rigorous functional checks. This simulation encompassed the entire process from flight preparation and ignition to spacecraft separation, ensuring each component's reliability and safety.
During the rehearsal, the Shenzhou-18 taikonauts simulated the entire mission process. After entering the spacecraft's re-entry capsule, they conducted joint inspections and tests of the personnel, spacecraft, rocket, and ground systems. Critical operations during the waiting and launch phases were successfully completed, further validating the mission's readiness.
The Astronaut Center of China confirmed that the Shenzhou-18 taikonauts are in excellent condition. An engineer reported that all systems are functioning normally ahead of the launch, with the next steps involving the refueling of the rocket with fuel and oxidizer.
\"We will enter the pre-launch inspection and launch procedures according to the scheduled launch window,\" stated Gao Minzhong from the Astronaut Center.
Reference(s):
China Shenzhou-18 manned mission ready for launch after full rehearsal
cgtn.com
