China Space Exploration: Shenzhou-13 to separate from space station core module
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The China Manned Space Agency says the Shenzhou-13 crewed spacecraft has completed all its scheduled tasks, and will separate from the space station core module Tianhe. The crew of three taikonauts, Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu, have been in orbit since October 16th last year, setting a new record for the country's longest manned mission in space. They are expected to return to Earth soon, arriving at the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Teams on the ground, including five helicopters and 18 search and rescue vehicles, have carried out a comprehensive final drill in the Gobi Desert to prepare for the crew's return. Our reporter Sun Ye has more on the return process for the Shenzhou-13 crew. 

The Shenzhou-13 crew has had the longest ever mission to China's Space Station. And six months since the crew left, the ground team now hopes they can help make their return the shortest trip possible.

SHAO LIMIN Deputy Technology Manager, Manned Spaceship System, China Academy of Space Technology "The biggest difference for the Shenzhou 13 crew's return trip: it will be fast. We've designed a return procedure where the spaceship takes only several rounds of orbiting, compared to the Shenzhou-12 spaceship's eighteen rounds after separation with the space station assembly. This will significantly cut down the time the taikonauts are waiting in the capsule. The improvement comes largely through compressing and stream-lining control procedures and flight strategies."

The last time, the return trip took the Shenzhou-12 crew nearly a day; for Shenzhou 13, it will be just hours.

SUN YE Beijing "The Shenzhou-13 crew will touch down on Earth in a re-entry capsule not much bigger than this one, from 1999. And space engineers say they're doing everything they can to make sure the ride home is as smooth as can be."

From the use of parachutes, to each small sensor. To ensure a safe, steady landing and the best possible situation for the taikonauts' health, the touchdown needs to be further slowed down.

SUN HAO China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation "If you compare the re-entry capsule to a car on autopilot, our gamma-height-control device is what senses the very precise distance from the ground and gives the brake signal. When our signal gets through, the reverse engine kick starts and that will slow down the capsule. This brings about a soft landing and makes sure the taikonauts are safe."

Sun said that in the stage of assembly and the stage of operation of the China Space Station, the "brake signal giver" will continue to prove crucial, as Shenzhou spaceships land on Earth in northwestern China's Gobi desert. SY, CGTN, Beijing.