China conducted tests at zero altitude, or site tests for emergency termination of launch, 17 June at the Jiuquan Cosmodrome in the Gobi Desert. The ignition command was issued by 00:30 in the Eastern time (04:30 UTC; 12:30 Beijing time), which led to the launch of the Mengzhou spacecraft's solid-propellant escape system engines, the Chinese Manned Space Agency CMSEO said in a statement .
The evacuation system quickly separates the spacecraft from the ground. Approximately through 20 seconds the device reached the set height. The return capsule has separated from the escape tower, and her parachutes deployed successfully.
According to CMSEO, the reentry capsule landed safely in the designated test area using the airbag system, which indicates a complete success of the test.
The test was designed to test systems, necessary for that, so that in an emergency, astronauts from the crew module could leave the rocket. This test marks an important milestone in the country's plans to send astronauts to the moon 2030 year.
China plans to conduct a maximum dynamic pressure flight rescue test later this year. CMSEO did not report, when will the final test take place. Also unknown, whether the test will be conducted in Jiuquan or at the Wenchang Coastal Spaceport.
Perhaps, China could use the Long March 5B or a purpose-built test missile to simulate landing and withdrawing from Wenchang, from which future manned lunar missions will be launched.
According to CMSEO, This is the first such test in China since the accident of the Shenzhou spacecraft in 1998 year.
According to the agency, Mengzhou is moving away from the traditional “missile driven interrupt” model, the spaceship is engaged in rescuing the crew", which is used by Shenzhou, to the system, where the Mengzhou spacecraft is fully responsible for both interrupt control, and for the safety of the crew.
Two-module Shenzhou ("dream ship") has a modular design and will be available in two variants: one for low Earth orbit and one for manned lunar missions. The partially reusable version of LEO can carry up to seven astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station or fewer astronauts and up to 500 kilograms of cargo. Monthly option, mass to 26 000 kilograms, will deliver three astronauts into lunar orbit and dock there with the help of a separate landing complex.
IN 2020 In 2016, China launched a template version of Mengzhou, which was then called simply "manned spacecraft of the next generation", in a test flight of the Long March 5B rocket, testing high-speed reentry into the atmosphere. CMSEO claims, that the Mengzhou spacecraft will be the primary vehicle for crew on space stations and lunar exploration missions.
"The success of this test lays an important technical foundation for future manned lunar missions", CMSEO said in a statement. "Working on related spacecraft, such as the Changzheng-10 launch vehicle and the lunar lander, is steadily progressing and further tests will be continued on schedule".
"Great Hike-10" uses three main steps in diameter 5,0 meters, operating on kerosene-liquid oxygen engines YF-100K, based on the development of "The Great Campaign-5". Its launchers are currently being built in Wenchang on Hainan Island.