In 2024, the Shenzhou 17 manned spacecraft carried out two extraterrestrial activities. The second extraterrestrial activity was the first time a Chinese astronaut completed the maintenance mission of a spacecraft extraterrestrial facility in orbit. The focus of this extraterrestrial activity was to complete the maintenance work of the solar wings in the Tianhe core module, eliminating the impact of the impact of small space particles in the early stage. After evaluation and analysis, the power generation performance of the solar wings was normal. After the mission of the extraterrestrial activity was completed, the Shenzhou 17 manned spacecraft and the space station combination were successfully separated, and the astronauts safely returned to the Wentian experiment module. The mission of the Shenzhou 17 manned spacecraft was a complete success.
Shenzhou 15 was the 15th Shenzhou spacecraft launched by China's manned space project and the 10th manned spacecraft launched by the People's Republic of China. Shenzhou 15 was launched on November 29,2022 by the Long March 2F launch vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and docked with the Tianhe Core Vehicle. The three astronauts on Shenzhou 15 would fly in orbit for six months. During this period, they would assemble, test, and commission the onboard load equipment, operate the robotic arm to install the extraterrestrial load, and perform operational management and maintenance of the space station. The Shenzhou 15 crew would also rotate with the Shenzhou 14 crew to achieve continuous human presence. The Shenzhou 15 manned mission was a complete success. The astronauts returned to the Dongfeng landing site on June 4,2023 after working and living in orbit for six months.
Shenzhou-6 was the sixth spacecraft launched by China's manned space project and also China's second manned space mission. It was launched on October 12, 2005 and successfully landed on October 17, completing the mission of "multi-person multi-day" space flight. Shenzhou-6 was an important milestone in China's manned space project, marking the smooth start of the second step of the project. The spacecraft was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Its main mission was to conduct scientific experiments, such as bone cells on the Earth's surface, cardiovascular medicine, digital photos, and test spacecraft. The Shenzhou-6 had the same shape as the Shenzhou-5 and weighed about 8 tons. It was launched using the Long March 2F launch vehicle. It was China's first manned spacecraft to carry out the mission of "many people and many days", making an important contribution to the development of China's space technology.
The Shenzhou-13 astronauts successfully returned on April 16,2022. They worked and lived in the space station and the core module for 183 days, setting a new record for the time spent in space by Chinese astronauts on a single mission. During the return process, the astronauts used a fast return mode, which took only more than nine hours, greatly reducing the fatigue of the journey. Astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu successfully left the cabin. They were in good physical condition. The space mission was a complete success and accumulated valuable experience for the development of China's aerospace industry.
The three astronauts on Shenzhou-13 were Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu. Among them, Zhai Zhigang was the commander. The three astronauts would carry out the Shenzhou-13 manned flight mission. Zhai Zhigang was China's first extraterrestrial astronaut, Wang Yaping had carried out the Shenzhou-10 manned mission, and Ye Guangfu was carrying out a flight mission for the first time. They would stay in orbit for six months, which was also the last mission of the Shenzhou 13 mission. This information indicated that the three astronauts were backup for each other during the Shenzhou 13 mission.
Shenzhou-6 was the sixth spacecraft launched by China's manned space program. It was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on October 12, 2005, and the successful return capsule landed safely at the main landing site of Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia on October 17. This mission marked the successful start of the second step of China's manned space project and was also one of China's major achievements in the aerospace field. The specific information about the launch process of Chang'e-6 was not found in the search results provided.
The Shenzhou 15 astronauts were composed of Fei Junlong, Deng Qingming, and Zhang Lu, with Fei Junlong as the commander. Fei Junlong was a special-class astronaut of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Astronauts Brigade and had rich experience in space. He had participated in the Shenzhou-6 manned flight mission and served as the captain of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Astronauts Brigade and the deputy commander of the manned space project. Deng Qingming and Zhang Lu were the first astronauts to fly in space. The Shenzhou 15 mission was the last leg of the construction phase of the Chinese space station. It was also the first leg of the application and development phase of the space station. It played an important role. During the in-orbit period, the crew would carry out various tasks.
The Shenzhou 18 astronauts were scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in late October this year. The Shenzhou 18 astronauts would stay at the space station for about six months to carry out maintenance and condition inspections, as well as carry out a number of scientific experiments. During their stay in orbit, they would also welcome the Tianzhou 8 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou 19 manned spacecraft. According to the China Manned Space Project spokesperson, the Shenzhou 18 astronauts were scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site in late October this year. Therefore, the Shenzhou 18 astronauts would return to the Dongfeng landing site.
The list of astronauts who died on Shenzhou 6 was Fei Junlong, Nie Haisheng, and Jing Haipeng.