Professionals in the Chinese space industry are closely monitoring the situation of the two American astronauts in orbit, who had their return to Earth postponed, and want them to return safely. This was reported by a spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) this Tuesday. “We recognize the high priority that NASA places on the safety of its astronauts and wish them both to return safely,” said Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for CMSA, during a press conference in Jiuquan, northwest China.
NASA astronauts remain on the International Space Station after Boeing’s Starliner capsule returned to Earth empty in September due to technical problems. The original plan was an eight-day test flight, but they will need to wait until the end of February next year for the return, which will be carried out by SpaceX.
Lin noted that manned space missions always involve significant risks and challenges and that the safety of astronauts is an absolute priority for governments and populations around the world. He highlighted that China works to minimize any risks in its space operations and constantly optimizes its emergency response plans, aiming to mitigate threats such as leaks caused by space debris.
Since the start of operation of the Chinese space station, astronauts’ response time to emergencies has increased fivefold, according to Lin. Currently, the Shenzhou-20 manned spacecraft and a Long March-2F rocket are ready in the final assembly phase at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Lin added that both are on standby to be quickly converted for an emergency rescue mission if necessary.
Source: https://www.chinahoje.net/china-deseja-retorno-seguro-dos-dois-astronautas-americanos-presos/
