Chinese astronauts arrive at new space station

For the first time in five years, China is bringing its own astronauts into space.

They are supposed to test important functions of the “Tiangong” space station under construction - and could break a record.

Beijing (AP) - Three astronauts have successfully reached China's space station under construction.

The spaceship "Shenzhou 12" (Magic Ship) with the spacemen Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo on board took off on Thursday morning from the Jiuquan space station in the Gobi desert.

The trip is the first manned Chinese space mission in five years.

Chinese state television showed live images of the launch and the spaceship as it unfolded its sun wings about 15 minutes later in orbit.

The astronauts opened their helmet visors and waved at the camera.

About six hours later, they successfully docked to the core module “Tianhe” using an automatic process.

So far, it is the only one of three planned modules that is already in space.

The station is on the move at an altitude of about 370 kilometers.

During their stay in space, the astronauts, who are led by the 56-year-old commander Nie Haisheng, are supposed to carry out work at the station, test important functions of the core module and also carry out scientific experiments.

While Nie Haisheng and 54-year-old Lio Boming are among the most experienced astronauts in China, this is the first flight for 45-year-old Tang Hongbo.

If you stay at the station for three months as planned, it would be the longest stay of Chinese space travelers to date.

In 2016, the Chinese Chen Dong and Jing Haipeng spent a month in space.

The first module of the "Tiangong", which should be ready by the end of 2022, was sent into space at the beginning of May.

Another cargo flight with material and fuel followed at the end of May.

To complete the space station, two more laboratory modules, each weighing a good 20 tons, will be brought into space.

Two more cargo flights and two manned missions are planned for the next year.

If the international space station ISS goes out of operation as planned in the next few years, China would be the only country that still operates a permanent outpost in space.

Chinese astronauts were not allowed to take part in missions on the ISS at the urging of the USA. 

China is pushing

ahead with

its ambitious space program

.

After several successful flights to the moon, the

People's Republic only brought the “Zhurong” rover to Mars in mid-May.

The People's Republic is the first nation to manage this maneuver on its first flight to the Red Planet.

In the medium term, China also wants to send people to the moon. 

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