Shenzhou 14 facts for kids
Roll out of Shenzhou 14
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| Mission type | Tiangong Space Station crew transport |
|---|---|
| Mission duration | 182 days, 9 hours and 25 minutes |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Shenzhou 14 |
| Spacecraft type | Shenzhou |
| Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 3 |
| Members | Chen Dong Liu Yang Cai Xuzhe |
| EVAs | 3 |
| EVA duration | 15 hours 53 minutes |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 5 June 2022, 02:44:10 UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 2F |
| Launch site | Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS |
| Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 4 December 2022, 12:09 UTC |
| Landing site | Inner Mongolia, China |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Low Earth orbit |
| Inclination | 41.5° |
| Docking with Tiangong Space Station | |
| Docking port | Tianhe Nadir |
| Docking date | 5 June 2022, 09:42 UTC |
| Undocking date | 4 December 2022, 03:01 UTC |
| Time docked | 181 days, 17 hours and 19 minutes |
 Shenzhou 14 mission patch  Cai Xuzhe, Chen Dong and Liu Yang Shenzhou programme
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Shenzhou 14 (Chinese: 神舟十四号; pinyin: Shénzhōu Shísì-hào; literally "Divine Boat Number 14") was a Chinese space mission. It launched on June 5, 2022. This flight was the ninth time China sent people into space. It was also the fourteenth flight in the Shenzhou program.
The spacecraft carried three Chinese astronauts, called taikonauts. They flew to the Tianhe core module. This module is the main part of the Tiangong space station. The mission launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March 2F rocket.
Shenzhou 14 left the Tianhe core module on December 4, 2022. It then quickly returned to Earth. The part of the spacecraft that carries the crew landed safely on the same day.
Contents
About the Shenzhou 14 Mission
The Shenzhou 14 mission was important for building the Tiangong space station. The crew helped put together two new parts of the station. These were the Wentian and Mengtian laboratory modules. They arrived at the station in July and October 2022.
The Shenzhou 14 crew was the third group to visit the Tiangong space station. They entered the Tianhe core module on June 5, 2022.
On July 24, the Wentian module launched and connected to Tianhe. This made the space station bigger. The Shenzhou 14 crew entered the Wentian module for the first time on July 25, 2022.
Later, on October 31, the Mengtian module also launched and connected to Tianhe. This completed the 'T-shape' of the space station. The crew entered the Mengtian module on November 3, 2022.
The Shenzhou 14 mission was also special because it started a new era. The next crew, Shenzhou 15, arrived before Shenzhou 14 left. This means the space station now has people living on it all the time.
Spacewalks During the Mission
The astronauts on Shenzhou 14 did three spacewalks. A spacewalk is when astronauts go outside the spacecraft.
- First Spacewalk: On September 1, 2022, Chen Dong and Liu Yang went outside. Liu Yang became the second Chinese woman to do a spacewalk. They installed a pump and a workbench. They also practiced emergency returns. This spacewalk lasted over 6 hours.
- Second Spacewalk: On September 17, 2022, Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe performed a spacewalk. Liu Yang helped them from inside. They installed more equipment and tested rescue abilities. This spacewalk lasted over 4 hours.
- Third Spacewalk: On November 17, 2022, Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe did their third spacewalk. Liu Yang again helped from inside. They installed connecting devices between the modules. They also moved a camera and installed a handle for a robotic arm. This spacewalk lasted over 5 hours.
The Shenzhou Spacecraft
The Shenzhou 14 spacecraft is part of China's Project 921. It looks similar to the Russian Soyuz MS spacecraft.
The Shenzhou spacecraft has three main parts:
- Orbital Module: This is at the front. It has a special ring that connects the spacecraft to the space station.
- Reentry Module: This is in the middle. It's where the crew sits during launch and landing. It's like a bigger version of the Soyuz descent module.
- Service Module: This is at the back. It holds the engines, fuel, and solar panels that power the spacecraft.
The Astronaut Crew
The names of the Shenzhou 14 crew were announced on June 4, 2022. All three are experienced astronauts.
- Senior Colonel Chen Dong was the commander. He had flown to space before on Shenzhou 11.
- Senior Colonel Liu Yang was the operator. She was the first Chinese woman in space, flying on Shenzhou 9.
- Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe was the system and science operator. This was his first trip to space.
By the end of the 180-day mission, Chen Dong had spent about 213 days in space. This set a new record for a Chinese astronaut!
| Position | Crew member | |
|---|---|---|
| Commander |  Chen Dong, PLAACSecond spaceflight |
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| Operator | Liu Yang, PLAAC Second spaceflight |
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| System and Science Operator | Cai Xuzhe, PLAAC First spaceflight |
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Space Classroom Lesson
On October 12, 2022, the three astronauts gave a special lesson from space. They taught science and did experiments live on television. Students watched from classrooms in different cities in China.
Chen Dong and Liu Yang showed how the Wentian module worked. They also did science experiments. Cai Xuzhe filmed the whole lesson. After their presentation, the astronauts answered questions from the students.
See also
In Spanish: Shenzhou 14 para niños
- Shenzhou 11
- Shenzhou 12
- Shenzhou 13
