At the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC), a team that controls the key flight stages of manned missions and deep space explorations really matters. It oversees the spacecrafts mainly during launch, rendezvous and docking, and return.

"We receive and process the telemeter data from the spacecrafts and send back control orders," said Jiang Ping, director of control on manned and deep space missions at the BACC, who has so far conducted more than a dozen key space missions with her team.

"Before launch, we mainly prepare the mission based on plans. After the liftoff, we focus on monitoring and operation. Immediately after the docking, we would relax, but just a little bit," Jiang said.

The team leader said that they would be nervous during the return mission, especially when it is a manned mission involving life safety of astronauts. But she is confident.

"Our center has undertaken many missions, either manned or deep space, so we have already achieved a high level of technical competence. We know how to remain calm and steady," Jiang said.

The most unforgettable experience for Jiang was the launch of Tianzhou-2 cargo ship for the China Space Station, which was delayed twice in 2021. 

"The launch was firstly delayed to the next day. We quickly adjusted our plans and data. That was a sleepless night, and we made the plan and preparation," she said.

But due to some unresolved technical problems, the mission was eventually delayed for over ten days.

That gave the team time to review the entire plan more comprehensively, make superimposed emergency plans and finally they ensured its smooth completion.

From the very beginning till now, the team has witnessed the changes with the Tianzhou-5 cargo ship breaking a world record in 2022.

"For the rendezvous and docking, we shortened the time from two days to just two hours in years. That's a fundamental change and acceleration in the control technology on spacecraft," Jiang said.

The team also makes flight control over spacecrafts for the Lunar and the Mars explorations, their expedition and landings on the moon and Mars, as well as rovers' patrol.

"We are facing tough missions next. We will undertake the next phase of lunar exploration, like Chang'e-6 and 7 and manned lunar landing," Jiang unveiled some major tasks they have planned.

"We will also undertake the launch mission of the Xuntian telescope and its in-orbit control. We will see the shift of crews, and extravehicular activities of astronauts and cargoes. These will be important missions for us in the long run," Jiang said.