Three astronauts will be on a roughly six-month mission to carry out experiments and install protective equipment against space debris. China strives to become a leading celestial power.
Crew to hold experiments in physics and medicine
Leading the crew is Chen Dong, who has already completed two missions before and is flying to space for a third time now. He will be accompanied by former air force pilot Chen Zhongrui and engineer Wang Jie, both first timers in space.
Besides space walks and general maintenance on the space station, the crew wants to install protective equipment against space debris, an increasing threat for space activities.
Also, experiments in both physics and medical sciences are planned. For the first time, they will bring planarians aboard, a kind of aquatic flatworms with great regenerative abilities.
“The results [of examining the planarians in space] could help address problems related to injuries sustained in space environments,” said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of China’s national space agency (CMSA) at a press conference on Wednesday.
China seeks space partners
China has been excluded from the International Space Station, as the US banned their space agency NASA from collaborating with Beijing, citing national security concerns.
China has increasingly sought space partners elsewhere.
In February, Beijing signed with Islamabad an agreement to send the first foreign astronaut to Tiangong. On Wednesday, China’s national space agency said that “two Pakistani astronauts will be selected to come to China for training.”
