The measurement and control system for the launch of China's Shenzhou-19 manned spaceship is all set to ensure its smooth liftoff scheduled for later this month, according to engineers at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
A Long March 2F carrier rocket, topped with the Shenzhou-19 spacecraft, now sits on its pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, ready to send it to the Tiangong space station.
The measurement and control system, which is charged with rocket flight tracking, data and image transferring, voice communication, and video supervision for the astronauts, among other tasks, has undergone extensive pre-launch tests as part of the spaceflight mission's final all-system integrated exercises.
"Throughout the launch mission, all measurement and control equipment will carry out real-time relay tracking of the rocket, before transferring the captured data to us here. When the optical equipment finishes its tracking task, a 3D situation image will be formed to show the spaceship's flying conditions and separation from the rocket, providing visual information support for the commanders' decision-making on the ground," said Yu Yi, a space engineer at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday.
To maximize coordination level and ensure absolute precision in execution, the engineers and technicians on the measurement and control system have carried out more than 50 mission rehearsals and emergency drills.
"We organized targeted training, mainly in the way of simulation and semi-physical drills. The training has improved the operators' promptness and accuracy in target capturing and deepened their understanding of the measured data," said Quan Gang, another engineer at the center.
According to Quan, the monopulse radar, a key source of directional information during spaceflight missions, has been further automated to boost its detecting and tracking capabilities.
"We've upgraded this equipment's klystrons and computing parts. It has become more reliable in operation, with a higher data sampling rate, greater computing power, and significant improvement in tracking stability and measurement precision," he said.
According to the space engineers, all parameters of the measurement and control system meet the technical requirements for the launch mission.
China's Tiangong space station is now hosting the Shenzhou-18 astronauts, who will rotate with the Shenzhou-19 crew following the planned launch in the coming days.
Measurement, control system ready for Shenzhou-19 launch
