{"id":10903,"date":"2021-10-15T18:44:47","date_gmt":"2021-10-15T10:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/china-repeats-call-for-international-astronauts-to-join-space-station-crews\/"},"modified":"2021-10-15T18:44:47","modified_gmt":"2021-10-15T10:44:47","slug":"china-repeats-call-for-international-astronauts-to-join-space-station-crews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/china-repeats-call-for-international-astronauts-to-join-space-station-crews\/","title":{"rendered":"China repeats call for international astronauts to join space station crews"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Artist\u2019s concept of the completed Chinese space station. Credit: CMSA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the eve of the next crew launch to the Chinese space station, a spokesperson for China\u2019s human spaceflight agency repeated Thursday the country\u2019s invitation for international astronauts to fly to the new orbiting space lab.<\/p>\n

The Shenzhou 13 mission, with an all-Chinese crew of three astronauts, is set for blastoff Friday at 12:23 p.m. EDT (1623 GMT) to begin the first six-month expedition on China\u2019s space station. The mission follows the three-month Shenzhou 12 crew mission, which ended last month.<\/p>\n

China, which is not a partner on the International Space Station project, plans to finish construction of its own space station by the end of next year, when astronauts will begin flying regular six-month stints on the complex.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe construction of China\u2019s space station will provide a platform for broader international cooperation, including astronaut joint space flights,\u201d said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency. \u201cIn fact, many countries and regions have already proposed to cooperate with us. We have already carried out cooperation in astronaut selection and training.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe welcome astronauts from other countries entering our space station, and conducting international cooperation,\u201d Lin said. \u201cWe believe that after the station enters the operation and utilization phase, more foreign astronauts will visit our station.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are no firm crew assignments or schedule for when international astronauts might fly on a Chinese mission, but Lin\u2019s comments Thursday reiterate a consistent message from China\u2019s space officials that international guests are welcome on the space station.<\/p>\n

China and Russia announced a roadmap earlier this year to develop an International Lunar Research Station, and the head of Russia\u2019s space agency said the country\u2019s cosmonauts could fly on China\u2019s space station.<\/p>\n

NASA is prohibited by law from most direct cooperation with China\u2019s space program.<\/p>\n

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An international team of astronauts, including Shenzhou 13 crew member Ye Guangfu, participated in a European Space Agency caving expedition in 2016. From left to right: Russian cosmonaut Sergey Korsakov, ESA astronaut Pedro Duque, Chinese astronaut Ye Guangfu, Japanese astronaut Aki Hoshide, and NASA astronauts Ricky Arnold and Jessica Meir. Credit: ESA\u2013S. Sechi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Shenzhou 13 mission, commanded by Chinese astronaut Zhai Zhigang, will blast off on top of a Long March 2F rocket Friday from the Jiuquan space base in the Gobi Desert. Zhai will be joined by veteran astronaut Wang Yaping and first-time space flier Ye Guangfu.<\/p>\n

Ye, a former jet pilot in China\u2019s air force, has already participated in joint astronaut training with the European Space Agency. He joined an ESA-led caving expedition in Sardinia in 2016, alongside NASA, ESA, and Japanese astronauts, and a Russian cosmonaut.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were staying in underground caves, and we learned from each other, and we overcame all the difficulties and accomplished our tasks,\u201d Ye said Thursday in a pre-launch press conference. \u201cIt was a tremendous case of international collaboration. It made me know that it is the responsibility of all astronauts to explore outer space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ye said he hoped astronauts from other countries will, one day, join him on a space mission.<\/p>\n