Next-generation spaceship on display by China

Posted by Kapil on October 26th, 2021

The public has seen China’s next-generation crewed spacecraft, which launched on a demonstration flight last year.

The capsule, which has previously flown, is on display at the Airshow China 2021 in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. The space capsule, which will be launched in May 2020 on a Long March 5B rocket, will be larger than the country’s current Shenzhou spacecraft. Chinese space officials claim that the new space capsule will be reusable and will improve on the criteria of reliability and safety.

Huang Kewu, deputy chairman of the manned lunar exploration general department, said the new space capsule will be essential to China’s spaceflight future in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV). He was working at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation’s Fifth Research Institute (CASC).

“Our manned lunar exploration and space station activities in the future will require a new generation of manned spacecraft,” Huang told CCTV. “A new type of human space vehicle has been tested, and it can carry six to seven astronauts, whereas our Shenzhou spacecraft can only carry three.”

The next-generation manned spacecraft is China’s largest return and re-entry spacecraft, with a launch mass of 21.6 tonnes and the most propellant. Last year, some of the new technology were successfully tested during the inaugural flight.