China has successfully completed a landmark safety test flight for its upcoming moon-landing mission using the Mengzhou spacecraft. The test, which aimed to ensure astronauts’ survival in case of rocket failure during lift-off, involved igniting the spacecraft’s escape engines while grounded and simulating emergency situations.
The test began with the ignition of the return capsule’s escape engines at midday on Tuesday, which resulted in the successful separation from the escape tower and deployment of parachutes. The capsule then landed safely within a predetermined zone using an airbag cushioning system.
This safety test marks China’s first attempt at this kind of simulation since 1998, when a similar trial was conducted for the Shenzhou spacecraft program.
Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3314870/mengzhou-spacecraft-chinas-moon-landing-mission-passes-landmark-test-flight