Next-generation crewed spacecraft

The next-generation crewed spacecraft (Chinese: 新一代载人飞船; pinyin: xīnyīdài zàirén fēichuán) is a type of reusable spacecraft developed and manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The prototype of the spacecraft underwent its first uncrewed test flight on 5 May 2020.

Next-generation crewed spacecraft
新一代载人飞船
Next-generation crewed spacecraft mockup displayed in 2023
Manufacturer CAST
Country of origin China
OperatorCMSA
ApplicationsChinese space station crew and cargo transport
Crewed exploration beyond LEO
Specifications
Spacecraft typeCrewed
Launch mass
  • Total mass: 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) (LEO configuration)
  • Total mass: 21,600 kg (47,600 lb) (lunar configuration)
  • Maximum mass: 23,000 kg (51,000 lb)
    New version: 26,000 kg (57,000 lb)
Dry massCrew module: 5,600 kg (12,300 lb) (landing mass)
Payload capacity
  • Total payload: 4,000 kg (8,800 lb)
  • Recoverable payload:2,500 kg (5,500 lb)
Crew capacity
  • 6-7 crew
  • 3 crew with 500 kg (1,100 lb) cargo
VolumeCrew module: 13 m3 (459 cu ft)
PowerSolar
RegimeLow Earth orbit, lunar Transfer Orbit, lunar orbit
Design life21 days
Dimensions
Length
  • Total length: 7.23 metres (23.7 ft) (LEO configuration)
  • Total length: 8.8 metres (29 ft) (lunar configuration)
DiameterCrew module: 4.5 metres (15 ft)
Production
StatusTesting
Built1
Launched1
Maiden launchLM5B-Y1 (5 May 2020)

The crew carrier is designed to ferry astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station in Earth orbit as well as conducting lunar exploration in conjunction with China's future lunar lander by the end of this decade. It is expected to have crewed flight capability around 2025-2026.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.