Preparations for Return of China's Shenzhou-17 Crew | China Space Station

Preparations for Return of China's Shenzhou-17 Crew | China Space Station

A search and rescue team has fully prepared for the return of the Shenzhou-17 spacecraft and its three crew members at the Dongfeng landing site in China's Gobi Desert. The Shenzhou-17 crew is due to return to Earth on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

With an area of tens of thousands of square kilometers, the landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia encompasses a multitude of terrain features, including deserts, grasslands, lakes, and saline-alkali lands, posing great challenges to the search and rescue operation.

To better handle their task in the challenging environment, the team has undertaken a range of training, including high-altitude rappelling from helicopter, anti-vertigo training, unmanned drone operation, diving and long-distance hiking with heavy loads in desert.

"Under the most challenging and complex conditions, we have conducted multiple systematic trainings and a three-month comprehensive exercise. In addition, we have carried out simulated trainings based on potential scenarios to ensure a safe return of the astronauts to the Dongfeng landing site," said Su Liming, a member of the search and rescue team.

Two comprehensive exercises involving the entire system of the landing site have been carried out, significantly enhancing the team's capabilities in performing search and rescue operations with coordinated and joint efforts.

"During the comprehensive exercises, both our personnel and equipment demonstrated outstanding performance. We have the capability and confidence to ensure a safe return of the astronauts," said Sun Liwen, another member of the search and rescue team.

Shenzhou-17 Crew:

Hongbo Tang (汤洪波, Commander)

Shengjie Tang (唐胜杰, Mission Specialist)

Xinlin Jiang (江新林, Mission Specialist)

Video Credit: China Global Television Network (CGTN)

Duration: 1 minute, 30 seconds

Release Date: April 27, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #China #中国 #GobiDesert #InnerMongolia #Dongfeng #Shenzhou17 #神舟十七号 #CrewSpacecraft #Taikonauts #Astronauts #HongboTang #ShengjieTang #XinlinJiang  #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #CMSA #国家航天局 #HumanSpaceflight #STEM #Education #HD #Video