CMSA: A Chinese astronaut to spend a year in space

Jiuquan (ANTARA) - A Chinese astronaut from the Shenzhou-23 crew, which will launch into space on Sunday (24/5), is planned to undertake a year-long stay in orbit, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Saturday (23/5).

Three Chinese astronauts, Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Li Jiaying (or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese), will undertake the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceflight mission. The astronaut chosen to spend a year in residence will be determined based on the mission’s development in orbit, CMSA spokesperson Zhang Jingbo said at a press conference.

During the year-long stay, China will conduct its first research programme on the human body living in space, collecting important data on astronauts exposed to the spaceflight environment over the long term, Zhang said.

“Assigning an astronaut to stay in orbit for a year is not merely duplicating the duration of two six-month missions,” Zhang said.

The extended mission will test the health-support capabilities for astronauts on long-duration missions, while also improving medical and protective systems in orbit, he noted.

The mission will also provide opportunities for ongoing long-term research on scientific projects and verification of related technologies, he added.

The Shenzhou-21 crew, which is now preparing for a personnel rotation, has spent 203 days in orbit and could set a record as the longest single-mission ever undertaken by a Chinese astronaut to date.