An astronaut from the Shenzhou-23 crew to be launched to space Sunday (May 24) is set to carry out a one-year-long in-orbit stay experiment, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Saturday.
Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying will carry out the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceflight mission. The astronaut selected for the year-long stay will be determined based on how the mission unfolds in orbit, CMSA spokesperson Zhang Jingbo said at a press conference.
During the year-long residency, China will implement its first space-based human body research program to collect crucial data on astronauts exposed to long-duration spaceflight environments, Zhang noted.
"Assigning an astronaut to a one-year in-orbit stay is not simply doubling the duration of two six-month missions," said Zhang.
The extended mission will test health support capabilities for astronauts on long-duration missions, while upgrading in-orbit medical and protection systems, according to Zhang.
It will also provide opportunities for long-term continuous research on scientific projects and related technology verification, said Zhang.
The Shenzhou-21 crew, now up for rotation, has already spent 203 days in orbit and is poised to set a record for the longest single mission duration by a Chinese astronaut crew so far.
(Source: Xinhua)
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