China’s space ambitions took another leap this week as the Shenzhou-18 crewed spacecraft soared into orbit! The mission—launched Thursday—is the third crewed flight since the China Space Station entered its operational phase, and it’s packed with cutting-edge upgrades .
Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the Shenzhou-18 shares its core design with earlier models like Shenzhou-16 and -17. But don’t be fooled—this spacecraft is a tech upgrade in disguise. CAST’s Chen Tongxiang highlighted one game-changer: new lithium batteries replacing older cadmium-nickel ones. Think of it like swapping your clunky old phone battery for a sleek, long-lasting power bank ! The switch reduces weight, saves space, and boosts safety—a must for crewed missions.
\"The upgrade was rigorously tested on cargo ships and other modules,\" Chen said, emphasizing reliability. The team also carved out extra room for science experiments, giving astronauts more space to work on breakthroughs .
With three crew members now settling into their orbital home, Shenzhou-18 marks another step in China’s quest to master space exploration. Next stop: the stars?
Reference(s):
China Space Station: Features of Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft
cgtn.com