Shenzhou 13 Taikonauts Prepare for Return to Earth from Tiangong Space Station in LEO

Crewmembers Ye Guangfu, Wang Yaping and Zhai Zhigang, having spent a CNSA record-breaking 6-months in orbit (Shenzhou 12 was in space 92 days), are to undock from Tiangong Space Station in the coming days, reentering Earth atmosphere in Shenzhou 13 return capsule and landing via parachute within Gobi Desert, Inner Mongolia. Over 20 space science experiments, 2 EVAs including the first female spacewalk of the China Manned Space Program and 2 livestreamed educational presentations aimed at inspiring young people to study space were among numerous mission activities. The Return of Shenzhou 13 will mark the end of the first “Critical Technology Validation Phase” of the China Space Station and the beginning of “Construction Phase” in which 2 additional, overlapping crewed missions will occur, both launched on Long March-2F from Jiuquan – Shenzhou 14 is to launch mid-May, ~1 month after Shenzhou 13 returns, and will be tasked with integration of 2 laboratory / experiment modules (Wentian lab in May or June, Mengtian in August or September) and docking / unloading of Tianzhou-5 cargo spaceship. Shenzhou 15, slated for November, is to complete station construction by end of year. The overlapping 14/15 crews will make use of the newly attached lab modules for extra sleeping quarters, as the primary dorm accommodates 3 Taikonauts. Permanent station operations are the “Third Step” of the China Manned Space Program, and are expected to last 10-15 years. (Image Credits: CNSA)

MONDAY

☆ Apr 11 — ISS, ~405-km LEO: Expedition 67 crew may have 4-member Axiom-1 crew aboard until end of week; preparing for Russia EVA #52 for European Robotic Arm integration work; donning radiation vest, performing vascular aging experiment.

☆ Apr 11 — Tiangong Space Station, ~370-km LEO: Shenzhou 13 crew readying equipment, experiment data / samples, personal belongings for return to Earth, where physical and psychological evaluations will occur for safety and health; Shenzhou 14 Taikonauts readying for launch in ~1 month.

☆ Apr 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2020 VB3: Near-Earth Flyby (0.105 AU)

o = International terrestrial events in local time.

★ = Space events, and… ☆ = International space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).

Celebrating 61st Cosmonautics Day, 21st Yuri’s Night, 41st STS-1 Columbia, 50th Apollo 16

The week ahead marks incredible, international and interglobal human spaceflight achievements of the past, while allowing for optimistic future projections. First human in space, Yuri Gagarin in 1961, is commemorated April 12 for the 61st Cosmonautics Day, and 21st Yuri’s Night Celebrations. To date, >600 people have breached the Kármán Line. CNSA, Roscosmos, and SpaceX are ferrying people to LEO, while Blue Origin offers suborbital flights just beyond 100 km. Also April 12, the 41st observation of the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia STS-1 maiden flight carrying John Young and Robert Crippen is noted, while NASA Space Launch System ‘Mega Moon Ship’ wet dress rehearsal / tests continue, and first launch on circumlunar trajectory is planned NET June. On April 16, the 50th observation of Apollo 16 with Astronauts John Young, Thomas Mattingly II, Charles Duke Jr. occurs, honoring the 10th crewed Apollo mission, 5th to land on Moon and 1st to conduct Astronomy from the Moon with Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph. China is conducting robotic astronomy from the Moon, and commercial USA CLPS landers will soon carry various astronomical payloads to the surface. Artemis program has the lofty goal to return people to the Moon, and land the 1st Woman and Person of Color at the Moon South Pole NLT 4 July 2026 for settlement, science, exploration, observation in Peace for All. (Image Credits: NASA, USSR, GSFC)

Continued From…
o Nov 4 – Jun 29 — Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Problems, NASA Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA), Moscow, Russia: Mixed gender, international crew of 6 participating in 8-month space / lunar simulation mission SIRIUS-21 (Scientific International Research In Unique Terrestrial Station).

● Mar 24 – May 26 — International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA Hawai’i), Online / Hawai’i Islands: ILO-X Moon Camera Naming Contest for HI Schools.

● Mar 26 – May 31 — AIAA LA-LV Section, Online: Women in Space Art Virtual Gallery.

o Mar 28 – Apr 8 — United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Vienna, Austria: 61st Session COPUOS Legal Subcommittee Meeting.

TUESDAY

o Apr 12 — 61st Commemoration of Human Spaceflight / Cosmonautics Day, Worldwide: Celebrating Yuri Gagarin of Russia, the 1st human to orbit Earth on Vostok 1 spacecraft in 1961; the flight lasted 108 minutes at 27,400 kph and 327 km above Earth.

● Apr 12 — 41st Observation of STS-1 Columbia Flight, Nationwide USA: Commemorations occur today in honor of 1st ever NASA Space Shuttle Columbia carrying John Young and pilot Robert Crippen around Earth on 54.5-hour mission in 1981.

o Apr 12 — 21st Yuri’s Night Celebrations, Global: Yuri’s Night 2022; annual worldwide party to celebrate Yuri Gagarin’s 1st flight into space and promote space exploration.

● Apr 12 — PTMSS, SRR, Colorado School of Mines, Online / Golden CO: Abstracts Due: Space Resources Roundtable 2022; being held Jun 7-10.

● Apr 12-14 — Applied Technology Institute (ATI), Online / Riva MD: ATI Course: Space Mission Structures from Concept to Launch (SMS); US$2,200 per person.

☆ Apr 12 — Moon: 4.7° NNE of Regulus, 05:00.

☆ Apr 12 — Jupiter: 0.10° NNW of Neptune, 05:00.

☆ Apr 12 — Apollo Asteroid 363599 (2004 FG11): Near-Earth Flyby (0.049 AU)

☆ Apr 12 — Aten Asteroid 2020 GE1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.079 AU)