In the vast expanse of the Gobi Desert, preparations are in full swing for the highly anticipated return of China’s Shenzhou-17 spacecraft. With three astronauts aboard, the spacecraft is scheduled to touch down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Tuesday.
On Friday, search and rescue teams conducted the final rehearsal, simulating the spacecraft’s landing and ensuring all systems are ready for the crew’s safe return. Over ten search and rescue teams equipped with helicopters, alongside dozens of medical supervision and response vehicles, participated in the comprehensive drill.
A precise landing point for the re-entry capsule was established, and team members meticulously practiced each step of the recovery process. Wang Yifan, a member of the air detachment team, shared insights on the team’s enhanced readiness.
“Through recent drills and exercises, we’ve significantly improved our technical and tactical capabilities,” Wang said. “Our equipment performance has been thoroughly tested, cooperation among the five helicopters has become seamless, and our ability to pinpoint the landing location is increasingly accurate.”
The Astronaut Center of China also took part in the rehearsal, focusing on medical monitoring and support for the returning crew. Xu Chong, a member of the search and rescue teams, emphasized the importance of the comprehensive drill.
“This full-system drill was crucial for us,” Xu explained. “We focused on medical monitoring and support for the crew members inside and outside the re-entry capsule, as well as within the prepared vehicles. After this drill, we’ve achieved our targeted goals with all working systems.”
Anticipating the sandy and dusty weather conditions typical of April in the Gobi Desert, the ground detachment team upgraded its response strategies and on-site operations to ensure optimal performance during the actual landing.
Now, with all systems in place and teams fully prepared, China eagerly awaits the safe return of the Shenzhou-17 crew, who have spent nearly six months conducting valuable research and experiments in space.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
