Three Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping
and Ye Guangfu completed their six-month “business trip” to space and returned to Earth on April
16, wrapping up the longest crewed mission to space in China’s aerospace history.
From launching extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) to completing the first autonomous docking
between a cargo ship and the core module of the space station, and from witnessing the first
spacewalk conducted by a Chinese woman to setting a record for China’s crewed space mission
duration, the 183-day mission has completed a series of experiments and technological
verification, laying a solid foundation for subsequent construction of the space station.
The Shenzhou-13 mission marked a historic transition of China’s aerospace undertaking. The
successful mission comprehensively verified the critical technologies required for the construction
of the space station and paved a path for subsequent in-orbit assembly and construction.
The three astronauts’ great performance stemmed from the confidence of China’s aerospace
industry and the innovation of China’s aerospace technologies.
Wearing China’s independently developed EVA suit Feitian, they calmly completed extra-
vehicular activities that were both dangerous and stunning. With a space network that was times
faster than 5G, they shared magnificent space views 400 kilometers above the Earth and gave live
classes to students.
Previously, Chinese astronauts had to take cargoes and materials in spaceships when leaving the
Earth, but the Tianzhou-2 cargo ship acted as a “space courier” this time, delivering materials to
the astronauts.
The aerospace progress driven by China’s independent innovation is constantly improving the
Chinese people’s ability to enter and exit from the space, and realizing more of their space dreams.
As Wang Yaping encouraged the young generation in a letter she replied to middle school students
to build their own “spaceships of dreams” with wisdom and sweats, realizing dreams takes both
actions and perseverance.
This year commemorates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China’s manned space
engineering project. The country’s perseverance in the past three decades will eventually result in
the realization of the country’s three-step strategy for manned space program.
In the past 30 years, China’s aerospace industry has made astonishing achievements, such as
extending crewed space mission duration from days to half a year and building a spacious and
comfortable space station.
What is also noteworthy is China’s efforts to continuously implement its aerospace strategies.
Chinese aerospace personnel have made stable progress and led the country to an era of space
station. The achievements nowadays are rewards of their perseverance.
As an important indicator of national sci-tech level and capability, Chinese aerospace has achieved
considerable strides toward sci-tech independence with self-confidence and self-reliance,
significantly inspiring the society to make further innovations.
The cosmos is immense and exploration of it will never be completed. The construction of the
space station is an important milestone of China’s aerospace undertaking and will make
groundbreaking contributions to mankind’s peaceful exploitation of space.
This year will be a year of decisive victory for the construction of the space station. The in-orbit
construction of the space station remains arduous, and the building of a stable in-orbit national
space lab still confronts obstacles.
It is believed that Chinese astronauts will explore the universe with more confidence and the
Chinese people will undoubtedly have more profound knowledge of the enormous space.
