Tianhe astronauts use free time to watch ping-pong and exercise

Chinese astronauts on board the Tiangong space station have enjoyed watching matches from the Tokyo Olympic Games, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

"Technically, we can connect them to live broadcasts, but they've chosen to watch transmitted recordings during their time off, because there are so many tasks for them to complete," the agency said in an article on its WeChat account on Friday. "So far, they have watched several ping-pong matches and diving events."

Besides conducting scientific experiments, technological tests and engineering tasks, the three crew members of the Shenzhou XII mission - mission commander Major General Nie Haisheng and Major General Liu Boming and Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo - also spend a lot of time exercising, the agency noted.

The astronauts are using a set of specially designed machines, including a treadmill and an exercise bike, in accordance with personal exercise plans, the statement explained, adding that they have gradually increased their daily amounts of exercise since their three-month space journey began in mid-June, to reduce the negative effects of microgravity on their bodies.

As of Friday morning, the Shenzhou XII crew had spent 50 days in a low-Earth orbit at an altitude of about 400 kilometers in Tiangong's core module, which is named Tianhe, or Harmony of Heavens. They are scheduled to remain in space until mid-September, when they will return to Earth.

They launched on June 17 aboard a Long March 2F carrier rocket that blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. The astronauts entered Tianhe later that day, after the spacecraft docked with the module, becoming Tianhe's first inhabitants.

The largest and heaviest spacecraft China has ever built, Tianhe is the first and central component of the Chinese space station, which is called Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace.

The Shenzhou XII mission, China's seventh manned spaceflight, is the first crewed mission of the Tiangong program, which aims to finish construction of a three-component space station in low-Earth orbit before the end of 2022.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

-SD -SPACE STORY-- dragonspace https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202108/06/WS610c8243a310efa1bd667003.html 295 25-DEC-49 China's astronauts preparing for another spacewalk China's astronauts preparing for another spacewalk china-station-tiangong-shenzhou-xii-spacewalk-eva-astronaut-exiting-airlock-hg.jpg china-station-tiangong-shenzhou-xii-spacewalk-eva-astronaut-exiting-airlock-lg.jpg china-station-tiangong-shenzhou-xii-spacewalk-eva-astronaut-exiting-airlock-bg.jpg china-station-tiangong-shenzhou-xii-spacewalk-eva-astronaut-exiting-airlock-sm.jpg File image of an earlier EVA by a Chinese astrounat. China Manned Space Agency
by Staff Writers Beijing (XNA) Aug 06, 2021 Chinese astronauts on board the core module of the Tiangong space station are preparing for the next extravehicular activity, or spacewalk, according to a mission insider.

"They have carried out a host of scientific experiments, technological tests and engineering tasks in accordance with mission schedules," a mission controller at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center told China Daily on Thursday. "Among their assignments, an important one requires them to use apparatus to monitor and record a long-term space mission's impact on their bodies. Currently, they are making ready for the next spacewalk, which will take place soon."

The specialist, who wished not to be named, said that besides conducting predetermined operations, the three crew members of the Shenzhou XII mission-Major General Nie Haisheng, the mission commander, Major General Liu Boming and Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo-also spend time on physical exercises.

"During their rest time, the astronauts can do whatever they like, such as reading books or watching movies on their personal devices. Moreover, thanks to our strong data relay capability, it is technically feasible for ground control to transmit live-broadcast TV signals to the spacecraft to enable them to watch the Olympic Games," he said.

In early July, the Shenzhou XII crew performed China's first extravehicular activity in 13 years, staying outside the space station for about seven hours.

During the spacewalk, Liu and Tang, wearing the nation's new-generation extravehicular suit, floated out of the station's core module, named Tianhe, or Harmony of Heavens, and then conducted several sophisticated maneuvers, such as testing a large robotic arm, installing equipment outside the spacecraft and adjusting the external panoramic camera.

Liu stood on, and moved with, the robotic arm for hours. Tang, in addition to assisting Liu and fulfilling his own assignments, also practiced the procedures for an emergency return into Tianhe.

Through the spacewalk, the astronauts verified the reliability and capability of hardware involved in extravehicular operation, demonstrated their adaptability and ability to work with the robotic arm, and examined the performance of their spacesuits. The operation laid a crucial foundation for subsequent spacewalks, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

Before this operation, Chinese astronauts had conducted only one other spacewalk, by Liu and Zhai Zhigang during the three-day Shenzhou VII mission in September 2008.

During the operation, Zhai stayed out of the spacecraft for about 15 minutes, while Liu moved the upper half of his body out of the craft for several minutes to assist him.

As of Friday morning, the Shenzhou XII crew had flown with Tianhe-the first and central component of the Chinese space station, called Tiangong, or Heavenly Palace-for 50 days. They are scheduled to remain in space until mid-September, when they will return to Earth.

The Shenzhou XII mission, China's seventh manned spaceflight, is part of the Tiangong program, which aims to complete a three-component space station in a low-Earth orbit before the end of 2022.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Related Links
China Manned Space Agency.
The Chinese Space Program - News, Policy and Technology
China News from SinoDaily.com

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Shanxi company helps astronauts keep fit in space
Beijing (XNA) Aug 03, 2021
During a recent video sent from the core module of China's space station Tianhe (Harmony of the Heavens), an exercise bike attracted lots of attention from viewers. China launched its seventh manned space mission Shenzhou XII on June 17. Three astronauts are on board Tianhe during a three-month mission, during which they require regular exercise. On June 23, astronaut Nie Haisheng opened a package containing an exercise bike and assembled it in five minutes. "During an extended period ... read more