China has successfully completed a crucial pad-abort test of its next-generation astronaut capsule for moon missions, marking an important step forward in the country’s efforts to send Chinese astronauts to the lunar surface. The Mengzhou spacecraft, designed to carry taikonauts to the moon, underwent a zero-altitude escape sequence test at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
During the test, the solid rocket escape engines on the capsule’s abort tower fired for approximately 20 seconds, and the spacecraft safely landed back on the desert surface after being guided by parachutes. The test was deemed a complete success by the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO).
This pad-abort test allows spacecraft engineers to verify the safety systems of new spacecraft without putting crews’ lives at risk. It is designed to propel the spacecraft away from the rocket in case of an emergency, providing a safe distance between the crew and potential disaster.
The Mengzhou capsule’s capabilities have been built into nearly every spacecraft designed for crew transport since the beginning of spaceflight. NASA’s Orion spacecraft, which aims to ferry astronauts to the moon as part of its Artemis program, also underwent a similar test in 2019.
China’s efforts to beat NASA back to the moon appear to be gaining momentum, with the country developing new technologies and testing capabilities. The White House has proposed a 2026 NASA budget that may impact NASA’s plans for a lunar return, including the cancellation of its Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket.
The Mengzhou capsule is expected to undergo an in-flight abort test using one of China’s Long March rockets, with the country developing the Long March 10 rocket for operational missions. The success of this test marks an important step forward in China’s lunar exploration program, which aims to send taikonauts to the moon in the near future.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/chinas-next-gen-astronaut-capsule-for-moon-missions-aces-crucial-pad-abort-test-video