Shenzhou 14 (Chinese: 神舟十四号; pinyin: Shénzhōu Shísì-hào; lit. 'Divine Boat Number 14') is a Chinese spaceflight that launched on 5 June 2022 at 02:44 UTC. The flight marks the ninth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the fourteenth flight of the Shenzhou program. The spacecraft carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on the third flight to the Tianhe core module, the first module of the Tiangong space station.[3] The launch of the three-person crew with a Long March 2F launch vehicle took place from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
![]() Roll out of Shenzhou 14 | |
Mission type | Tiangong Space Station crew transport |
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COSPAR ID | 2022-060A ![]() |
SATCAT no. | 52797 |
Mission duration | 180 days (planned) 158 days, 13 hours and 47 minutes (elapsed) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Shenzhou 14 |
Spacecraft type | Shenzhou |
Manufacturer | China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation |
Crew | |
Crew size | 3 |
Members | Chen Dong Liu Yang Cai Xuzhe |
EVAs | 2 |
EVA duration | 10 hours 19 minutes |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 5 June 2022, 02:44:10 UTC[1] |
Rocket | Long March 2F |
Launch site | Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS |
Contractor | China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology |
End of mission | |
Landing date | December 2022 (planned)[2] |
Landing site | Inner Mongolia, China |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Inclination | 41.5° |
Docking with Tiangong Space Station | |
Docking port | Tianhe Nadir |
Docking date | 5 June 2022, 09:42 UTC |
Time docked | 158 days, 6 hours and 49 minutes |
![]() Shenzhou 14 mission patch ![]() Cai Xuzhe, Chen Dong and Liu Yang Shenzhou programme Tiangong program Wentian module → |
The spaceflight is the second of the upcoming missions set to last six months (180 days).[4] After that, the six-month stay aboard the space station will become the normal duration of the astronaut crew in orbit.[5] The flight marks the third of four crewed missions scheduled to dock with the Tiangong space station by the end of construction in 2022.[6]
The mission is visiting the Tianhe core module following the launch and docking of Tianzhou 4, the third resupply mission to the station. The crew are expected to assist with the assembly of the Wentian and Mengtian laboratories, which are scheduled to arrive at Tiangong in July and October respectively.[7] The Shenzhou 15 crew is scheduled to arrive 10 days before Shenzhou 14 departs, which means that the Shenzhou 14 mission marks the beginning of keeping the station permanently inhabited.[8]
The crew saluted while entering the Tianhe core module later on 5 June 2022, at 12:50 UTC as the third expedition to the Tiangong space station. On 24 July, Wentian was launched and successfully docked with Tianhe expanding the space station. On 25 July 2022 at 02:03 UTC, the crew of Shenzhou 14 opened the hatch and entered the Wentian module for the first time. On 31 October, Mengtian was launched and successfully docked with Tianhe forming the 'T-shape' structure of the space station. On 3 November 2022 at 07:12 UTC, the crew opened the hatch and entered the Mengtian module for the first time.
At least three spacewalks are planned to occur during the crew's approximately six-month stay in orbit. Shenzhou 15 will be on standby for any possible rescue mission.[9]
On 1 September 2022, the first planned spacewalk was carried out by Chen Dong and Liu Yang as they left the airlock of the Wentian lab module to conduct extravehicular activities. Liu became the second Chinese woman to carry out a spacewalk. They completed a series of tasks including installing an additional pump on the exterior, raising panoramic camera B, installing a workbench, demonstrating emergency return, etc. The spacewalk lasted for 6 hours and 7 minutes.[10][11]
On 17 September 2022, the second scheduled spacewalk was carried out by Chen Dong and Cai Xuzhe through the airlock of the Wentian lab module, with Liu Yang assisting the pair from inside the Tianhe core module. Chen and Cai completed a series of tasks, including the completion of the installation of foot restraints and extravehicular workbenches, and will follow up with the support of the small robotic arm, and cooperate with each other to carry out the installation of the outboard booster handle, the installation of the load circuit expansion pump set, and the verification of the extravehicular rescue capability. The spacewalk lasted for 4 hours and 12 minutes.[12]
Shenzhou 14 spacecraft is based heavily on Soyuz MS technology. Shenzhou was approved in 1992 as part of the Chinese space program Project 921, and has a design similar to the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.[citation needed]
In the front of the spacecraft, there is the orbital module which contains an androgynous docking ring based on APAS technology, which is used to dock to the Tianhe core module. In the middle is the reentry module containing the crew which is a scaled-up version of the Soyuz descent module. The rear of the spacecraft is the service module which is equipped with engines, fuel tanks, and solar panels.[13]
The crew was publicly announced in a press conference on 4 June 2022. Each crew member saluted when introduced, as is required by all taikonauts. [14]
Senior Colonel Chen Dong is a veteran of Shenzhou 11. Senior Colonel Liu Yang previously flew on Shenzhou 9, becoming the first Chinese woman in space. Senior Colonel Cai Xuzhe makes his first flight to space. By the time Shenzhou 14 completes the 180-day mission, Chen will have spent about 213 days in space, setting a new record for a Chinese astronaut.
Position[15] | Crew member | |
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Commander | ![]() Second spaceflight | |
Operator | ![]() Second spaceflight | |
System Operator | ![]() First spaceflight |
On 12 October 2022 at 4:01 p.m. Beijing time (8:01 a.m. UTC), the three crew members held a lesson and conducted the scientific experiments from space station. The "main classroom" was in Beijing, and "branch classrooms" were in Zhengzhou, Henan province, Heze, Shandong province and Dali, Yunnan province. Chen Dong and Liu Yang introduced the functions of the Wentian module and conducted the scientific experiments and taught a science lesson to Chinese students by live television broadcast while Cai Xuzhe filmed the entire lecture. After a brief presentation of the taikonauts it was followed by the opportunity to answer schoolchildren's questions from the classrooms.[16]
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International Space Station (Expedition 68) |
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