The press conference on Shenzhou 20 manned flight mission was held today (April 23) at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The spokesperson introduced that the selection of windows is mainly based on the task needs. Overall, the determination of the launch and return window of the manned spacecraft is divided into two steps. First, based on the basic engineering constraints, the large time period was clarified in the flight mission planning half a year ago, and secondly, before the mission, select the specific window time that is conducive to astronauts' safety and mission implementation based on the actual operating orbit of the space station. At present, the manned spacecraft adopts a 6.5-hour autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking scheme, and the space station implements phase adjustment before the manned spacecraft is launched to cooperate. In this mission, April 24 was selected as the launch window. The space station had the least phase adjustment control times and were all upgraded orbit controls. It also met the conditions such as energy constraints of manned spacecraft in orbit. It can be said that the launch of Shenzhou 20 manned spacecraft on April 24 is the best launch window based on meeting various constraints.
It is worth noting that the window time coincides with the tenth "China Space Day", which adds new bearings and special significance to this mission.
On April 24, 1970, my country's first artificial earth satellite, "Dongfanghong-1", was successfully launched here, embarking on the great journey of the Chinese to explore space.
Fifteen years later, on the occasion of the tenth "China Space Day", the Shenzhou 20 manned spacecraft will go to the "Tian Palace" from here to run the "relay race" of the Chinese exploring the vast universe. The vast astronauts who are fighting in their respective positions will spend this special festival with a high spirit of swearing to win the mission success.
Here, I would like to pay tribute to the older generation of astronauts who have made outstanding contributions to my country's "two bombs and one satellite" and manned spaceflight, and to all the strugglers and climbers who have silently contributed to building a powerful aerospace country!
(CCTV reporter Huang Xianwen and Wang Gang)
