Shenzhou XVII commander confident of mission's success

Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo, commander of the Shenzhou XVII mission, said on Wednesday, one day ahead of their scheduled departure for the Tiangong space station, that the crew members have trained hard for the coming mission and are confident of its success.

The mission leader said at a news conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert, that his team will become the second crew to stay inside the Tiangong station after it was completed at the end of 2022. They are tasked with conducting a large number of scientific experiments and technological tests during the mission, he said.

"Hard training on the ground is the only way toward the success of our mission in space. To prepare for our tasks, we have been sparing no efforts to study theories, practice procedures and maneuvers, and improve our skills.

"We focused on science and technology tasks in fields such as space-based materials research, fundamental physics in a microgravity environment, and life science and biotechnology," he said.

The crew members spent a lot of time and energy on familiarizing themselves with space station management, spacewalking, and healthcare skills, Tang said. They paid special attention to emergency response procedures and handling malfunctions.

"There are always risks and hazards in space, which require astronauts to be able to take measures in a rapid, accurate manner," Tang explained.

The senior colonel said in the two years since he returned from the three-month Shenzhou XII mission, he had raced against time to learn new knowledge and hone his skills to prepare for his next flight.

"As the mission commander, I am responsible for making this flight successful. I have the confidence, determination and ability to work with my two colleagues to complete our mission," he said.