Chinese aerospace professionals committed to ensuring mission success

As preparations for the upcoming Shenzhou-20 manned space mission enter their final stage, Chinese aerospace professionals at the Xi'an Satellite Control Center are working diligently, refining every step and detail to ensure the success of the mission.

Located in Xi’an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the control center manages everything from flight trajectory design and software engineering to command and control.

At the Qingdao telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) station, a branch of Xi'an Satellite Control Center located in east China's Qingdao City, Shandong Province, senior engineer Zhang Zhuo and her colleagues were working on joint system debugging as they prepared for the launch of the Shenzhou-20 mission.

Zhang, a 23-year veteran, has developed a routine of writing down detailed notes while working, which helps her remember important information and provides guidance when she encounters technical problems.

"Taking work notes comes naturally to me, just like breathing, eating, and drinking," said Zhang.

Zhao Dan, as the first female operator at the Xi'an Satellite Control Center has constantly enhanced her professionalism through overcoming challenges in her work.

"Becoming a Huashan (code name for Xi'an Satellite Control Center) operator is both an acknowledgment of my abilities and a source of motivation. As space TT&C tasks intensify, the challenges ahead will also grow greater," said Zhao.

In addition to Zhang and Zhao, there are many other dedicated aerospace professionals who have been working diligently and contributing to the progress of China's space program.

"In my work, the mouse and keyboard are like the needles for an embroiderer, while some of the algorithms and codes I write are like the techniques used by the embroiderer. We hope to carry forward this spirit of craftsmanship, creating a map of China's space orbits in the vast expanse of the universe," said Wang Lusha, an aerospace worker at the center.

Chinese aerospace professionals committed to ensuring mission success

The new China-Mongolia cross-border railway is expected to serve as a new bridge for boosting connectivity between the two countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in Beijing on Thursday.

China and Mongolia held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday to mark the official launch of construction on the Gantsmod–Gashuunsukhait rail project, which will be the second cross-border rail link between the two countries.

Lin said at a regular press briefing that the railway would inject new momentum into the development of China-Mongolia bilateral relations.

"On May 14, China and Mongolia held a ceremony to mark the official groundbreaking of the Gantsmod-Gashuunsukhait cross-border railway, which is the second cross-border railway between the two countries. Expanding cooperation in key areas such as economy and trade, energy, mining and connectivity is an important common understanding between President Xi Jinping and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh. In February this year, Premier Li Qiang and Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene jointly witnessed the exhibiting of the cooperation agreement on the Gantsmod-Gashuunsukhait railway and coal trade," said Lin.

"The construction of this cross-border railway is not only a concrete step of implementing the important common understanding between the presidents of the two countries, but also an important action to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and Mongolia's Steppe Road Program. We hope this railway will serve as a new bridge for China-Mongolia connectivity, fostering deeper development integration, promoting industrial synergy, and expanding visits and exchanges, thereby injecting new impetus in to the building of a China-Mongolia community with a shared future," he said.

New cross-border railway to enhance connectivity between China, Mongolia: FM spokesman