China successfully conducted a pad abort test for its next-generation crew spacecraft, Mengzhou, early Tuesday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. The test aimed to verify systems needed to get astronauts away from their rocket in an emergency situation.
The test involved issuing an ignition command at 12:30 a.m., triggering the launch escape system to rapidly boost the spacecraft away from the ground. Within 20 seconds, the vehicle reached a predetermined altitude, and the return capsule separated from the escape tower before deploying parachutes successfully. The return capsule landed safely in the designated test zone using an airbag cushioning system.
The pad abort test marks a significant milestone for China’s plans to put astronauts on the moon by 2030. Mengzhou is designed to take full responsibility for both abort control and crew safety, shifting from the traditional model used by Shenzhou spacecraft.
China’s new crew vehicle, Mengzhou, has a modular design with two variants: one for low Earth orbit and one for crewed lunar missions. The partially reusable LEO version could carry up to seven astronauts, while the moon variant can carry three astronauts. The success of this test lays an important technical foundation for future crewed lunar missions.
The next step is China’s in-flight escape test at maximum dynamic pressure later in the year, which will be conducted using a Long March 5B or a purpose-built test rocket. This marks a significant milestone in China’s space program and sets the stage for its ambitious plans to explore the moon.
Source: https://spacenews.com/china-conducts-pad-abort-test-for-crew-spacecraft-advancing-moon-landing-plans