Chinese astronaut Ye Guangfu, commander of the Shenzhou-18 spacecraft which will blast off from northwest China on Thursday evening, has recalled the "unforgettable" experience of his first mission as he prepares to make a return to space after two years.
Ye was a member of China's Shenzhou-13 mission, which launched in October 2021 and at the time set a record for the longest stay in orbit by a Chinese crew when they returned the following April. The more-than six-month mission saw the verification of key technologies of the then under-construction Tiangong space station.
Ye was part of the three-member crew alongside the experienced Zhai Zhigang, the first Chinese astronaut to complete a spacewalk, and Wang Yaping, China's second female astronaut.
A landmark moment during the half-year-long mission came on Dec 27, 2021, when the Shenzhou-13 crew completed their second extravehicular activities (EVAs) with a six-hour mission, which also marked Ye's debut spacewalk.
Ye described this particular day as the most memorable of his extraordinary time in space.
"The most unforgettable moment, I think, should be the first time I performed an extravehicular mission. I was in an extravehicular suit that time, standing on the robotic arm. As the robotic arm slowly moved, I moved to the mission spot. I felt like I was really flying at that time. It was really great. When I looked back and saw our space station, which was flying with me in space, and the red color on the spaceship, yes, our national flag, I was in awe. It was unparalleled. I think that scene is a collection of the hard work of all astronauts, and also a reflection of the dreams and the pride of our Chinese nation," he said.
The three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-13 mission also delivered livestream lectures from on-board the country's space station Tiangong to students tuning in across China and around the world.
The Shenzhou-13 crew also carried out a number of scientific and technological experiments and tests which saw them verifying many key technologies which would guarantee astronauts' long-term stay in space, ensuring sufficient life support, space material supplies, extravehicular activities and operations, and completing in-orbital maintenance.
Together with his crewmates, Ye completed the manual remote control docking of a cargo spacecraft with the space station for the first time, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent construction of the Tiangong station.
Ye also spoke of the quiet sense of accomplishment that came with such an achievement.
"At that time, the three of us were at our own work positions, and we worked closely together. After we completed the precise docking, the commander did not say any words, but gave us the gesture of a thumbs up. At that moment, such a simple gesture, such an affirmation, really touched our hearts. It was really a feeling that silence here is better than any words," Ye said.
The six-month mission also saw Shenzhou-13 crew members celebrate traditional Chinese festivals high above the Earth. The trio became the first Chinese to spend the nation's most important festival - the Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year - in outer space.
In a chemical reaction experiment made in orbit, the three astronauts created the distinctive colors on a model of the famous five Olympic rings, cheering on Chinese athletes at the Winter Olympic Games which took place in Beijing in February 2022.
Ye's first adventure in space concluded when the Shenzhou-13 return capsule landed safely in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on April 16, 2022, bringing the mission to a successful close.
Now Ye will draw on his valuable experience and step up in the role of commander of the Shenzhou-18 mission, where he will lead a crew consisting of newcomers Li Cong and Li Guangsu.
The spaceship is slated to lift off at 20:59 Thursday Beijing Time (12:59 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The Shenzhou-18 spaceship, sitting atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, was transferred to the launch area last Wednesday, with pre-launch function checks and joint tests conducted to ensure the spaceship's readiness prior to the scheduled lift-off.
Commander who will lead China's Shenzhou-18 mission recalls "unforgettable" first space journey
