China just launched its Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship on Thursday, and it's making waves! 🌊 This isn't just any launch—it's the third since their space station entered its application and development phase. Pretty epic, right?
So, what's the buzz about Shenzhou-18? Well, it's got the same design as its siblings Shenzhou-16, -17, and the upcoming -19. But here's the twist: there are some sweet upgrades! 😎 According to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), they've made important modifications like upgraded batteries.
\"From the general technical state, there are the orbital module, the re-entry module, and the propellant module. And there are solar panels and the engines. They are consistent with the previous technological designs,\" said Chen Tongxiang from CAST.
But wait, it gets better! Chen spilled the tea on the biggest difference this time—the battery upgrade. They're ditching the old cadmium-nickel batteries for lighter, smaller lithium ones that last way longer. Talk about leveling up! 🔋
\"As a manned vehicle, the Shenzhou spacecraft requires the highest safety and reliability. The upgrade to the battery has been fully verified in our space station, cargo ships, and other spacecraft,\" Chen noted.
Oh, and for all you space science fans, there's a little more room for experiments on board! 🧪✨
China's space game is strong, and we can't wait to see what's next! 🌌
Reference(s):
China Space Station: Features of Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft
cgtn.com
