China’s three Shenzhou 14 astronauts have completed their first month in orbit as they prepare for the arrival of the Chinese space station’s second module.
Astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe launched aboard the Shenzhou 14 spacecraft on June 5 and docked with Tianhe, the core module of the under-construction Tiangong space station, around six hours later.
So far, all is going well for the crew, who have been exercising using treadmills and stationary bikes to reduce the impact of microgravity on their bodies.
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Wu Dawei, deputy chief designer of China’s human space program taikonaut (as Chinese astronauts are called) system, described the Shenzhou 14 crew as “a young, lively and rigorous team with good physical, operational and psychological conditions,” according to the Chinese state media outlet Xinhua (opens in new tab).
The crew will spend six months in orbit and will oversee the arrival of two new modules, which will complete the T-shaped orbital outpost. The first new module, named Wentian, is expected to launch late this month.
During the first month, the taikonauts have conducted tests on the water, air and microorganisms inside Tianhe.
They also installed a carbon dioxide reduction system for improving the air aboard the station, tested Feitian spacesuits for future spacewalks, and debugged equipment aboard Tianhe.
The crew will deliver a first live lecture from the Wentian module after its arrival, Xinhua reported (opens in new tab) on Wednesday (July 6).
The Shenzhou 14 taikonauts will also be involved in the first Chinese space station crew handover when the Shenzhou 15 crew arrives in December.
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