Astronauts on Tiangong Space Station Complete Fire Safety Drill

Astronauts on Tiangong Space Station Complete Fire Safety Drill
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Aug 09, 2024

The Shenzhou XVIII crew aboard China's Tiangong space station has successfully completed a series of tasks, including a critical fire alarm test, the China Manned Space Agency reported.

Led by mission commander Senior Colonel Ye Guangfu, alongside Lieutenant Colonel Li Guangsu and Lieutenant Colonel Li Cong, the astronauts tested the space station's fire safety systems by activating temperature and smoke detectors within the core and two science modules. The test aimed to confirm the proper functioning of these safety devices.

In addition to safety checks, the crew has been conducting health assessments, including blood sampling. Some of the blood samples were stored for transport back to Earth, where they will be analyzed to further understand the effects of long-duration spaceflight on human bones and metabolism, according to the agency.

The astronauts have also carried out various medical evaluations, such as dynamic electrocardiographic blood pressure measurements and pulmonary function tests during exercise sessions, the agency added.

Wang Yanan, chief editor of *Aerospace Knowledge* magazine, commented that China's experience with maintaining a space station is relatively new, necessitating further research into the effects of extended space missions on astronaut health.

"Such knowledge and solutions to the possible problems (in astronauts' health) will be extremely important to maintain mission crew's physical and mental wellness," he said. "They will also be crucial if China wants to establish permanent infrastructure on the moon that is regularly manned."

Wang emphasized that continuous medical monitoring and testing are essential for ensuring the long-term well-being of astronauts.

The Shenzhou XVIII team, which represents the seventh group of residents to live aboard Tiangong, was launched on April 25 via a Long March 2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. They reached the space station the following morning, relieving the Shenzhou XVII crew.

During their mission, the astronauts have conducted two spacewalks, during which they installed space debris shields and inspected extravehicular equipment.

With over half of their mission now completed, the crew is set to continue with scientific experiments and technology tests for the remainder of their stay, the agency said.

Tiangong, completed in late 2022, orbits Earth at approximately 400 kilometers and is one of the most complex space structures ever built.