Shenzhou-17 astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie, and Jiang Xinlin have been on mission in space for nearly two months. At the same time, China's space community is also full of discussions about the Shenzhou-18 mission, especially about the selection of the crew and whether there will be the first female commander of the Chinese space station.
First of all, let's take a look at the progress of the Shenzhou 17 mission.
It has been nearly two months since the Shenzhou-17 mission, and the astronauts have carried out a series of colorful activities in the space station. Recent news shows that astronauts use vacuum clippers to cut their hair in a weightless environment, and at the same time use a shampoo "artifact" to clean it, these heartwarming images fully demonstrate the life and work of astronauts in extreme environments.
In addition, the astronauts also carried out basic work and the commissioning of the experimental cabinet, which laid a solid foundation for the subsequent mission.
The highly anticipated mission to carry out repairs to the space station for the first time has not yet been publicly announced. This challenging mission addresses the potential risks posed by possible impact of tiny particles on the space station. Although these impacts did not have an impact on the station's capabilities, in order to validate the technical capabilities, the astronaut crew planned an extravehicular experimental repair, a critical attempt capable of pushing the capabilities of extravehicular activities to new heights.
However, the mission was affected by solar activity, particularly recent intense solar flares. Considering the safety of the spacecraft and astronauts, the mission may be postponed, which is a reasonable decision.
Regarding the Shenzhou-18 mission, it is expected to be carried out about 6 months after the end of the Shenzhou-17 mission.
Let's discuss whether there will be the first female commander of the Chinese space station.
The number of female astronauts in China is limited, but they are excellent in terms of strength and experience. There is no definite information about the commander of the mission commander of Shenzhou 18. However, according to China's aerospace secrecy policy, closed training activities mean that astronauts' movements are strictly controlled. By observing the astronauts' public activities and popular science publicity, we can preliminarily rule out the possibility of some astronauts participating in the Shenzhou-18 mission.
At present, Chinese female astronauts mainly include Wang Yaping and Liu Yang. They both have a wealth of experience and outstanding accomplishments, but according to public information, they have been engaged in non-mission-related public activities recently, suggesting that they may not be involved in upcoming missions.
The specific arrangements for China's space missions and astronauts have always been kept secret. Before the mission is approaching, the China Space Center usually publishes relevant information. Activities of a confidential nature are essential to ensure the security and smooth conduct of the mission.
What we can be sure of is that the Shenzhou-18 mission is unlikely to have female astronauts in the role of commander, because the female astronauts who may be suitable for the commander have not recently participated in closed mission training.
As for whether there are female astronauts involved in the mission, or the specific list of other astronauts, we still have to wait for the official announcement of the China Space Center. China's space missions have always been rigorous and strictly adhere to the principle of confidentiality, so any information about astronauts will be disclosed at the appropriate time to ensure the smooth operation of the mission and the safety of the astronauts.
In general, the development of China's space industry has attracted much attention, and we look forward to more wonderful space missions and astronauts' performances.