The upcoming launch of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft has undergone comprehensive optimizations aimed at further improving reliability and safety, according to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced last week that the spacecraft will be launched at an appropriate time in the near future. The combination of the Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket has been transferred to the launching area, according to the CMSA.
Compared with the Shenzhou-19 mission, the rocket system for Shenzhou-20 has seen more than 20 upgrades, covering areas such as manufacturing techniques, data transmission, and reliability enhancement.
"The rocket is now equipped with more cameras, and video resolution has also been comprehensively upgraded to full HD. These enable us to have a more comprehensive monitoring of its flight status," said Qiao Liqing, a staff member at the launch center.
In addition, an intelligent launch command and management system, developed on the basis of over 200,000 equipment parameters, thousands of image data streams, and hundreds of technical documents, will be put into use during the Shenzhou-20 launch, the first time in a crewed mission.
The system allows commanders and operators at various posts to better understand the upcoming tasks and receive intelligent decision-making support, significantly boosting overall work quality and efficiency.
"To enhance auxiliary decision-making capabilities during the mission, we have built a card-based database of plans and contingency responses, covering key systems such as the rocket, launch site, and ground-to-space communications," said Hu Yonggang, another staff member at the center.
"This year, we've also introduced the rocket's digital companion system for the first time, enabling visualized monitoring of critical processes such as final inspections and full-system rehearsals. The system supports real-time interpretation of test data and accurate simulation of the rocket's flight status," Hu added.
In addition to technical enhancements, the launch center has intensified efforts in talent development.
"With support from the training center, we've systematically conducted intensive group trainings, specialized trainings, mission-targeted trainings, and standardized assessments. The training cycle for the participants has been shortened by more than half, allowing them to perform missions with greater confidence, composure, and efficiency," said Zhao Lei, a staff member at the launch center.
Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight system optimized for reliable, safe launch mission
Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight system optimized for reliable, safe launch mission
Shenzhou-20 crewed spaceflight system optimized for reliable, safe launch mission
