Preparations for the launch of China's Shenzhou-22 spacecraft are in full swing as it will be launched at an appropriate time to send food supplies and equipment to the Chinese space station, according to an official from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Friday.
Zhou Yaqiang, the CMSA official, said the preparatory work includes spacecraft and rocket tests and cargo preparation. "The mission for launching the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft has been initiated, with preparations for all systems in full swing, including testing the spacecraft and rocket components and preparing the cargo. The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft is sure to carry supplies. The spacecraft's cargo-carrying capacity is a highly valuable resource for the manned space program, so we will make full use of every opportunity. The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft will mainly deliver food supplies for the astronauts and some equipment for the space station," Zhou said.
On Nov 1, the Shenzhou-21 manned spaceship sent a crew of three astronauts to the Chinese space station to succeed the three-member Shenzhou-20 crew and stay in orbit for around six months.
However, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, which was originally scheduled to take the Shenzhou-20 crew of three astronauts back to the Earth on Nov 5, experienced a suspected impact from space debris before the task, resulting in it not meeting the requirements for a safe return, according to the CMSA.
The agency therefore adopted an alternative plan, taking the three Shenzhou-20 astronauts back to the Earth aboard the Shenzhou-21 ship on Friday. This marked the first successful implementation of an alternative return procedure in the country's space station program history.
Preparations for Shenzhou-22 mission in full swing: CMSA official
The restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has triggered significant disruptions across the international shipping sector, driving up shipping costs and legal pressures related to shipping.
Iran has restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean, as part of its response to U.S. and Israeli military attacks that started on Feb 28.
The partial blockade of this vital global energy route has not only impacted global energy supplies but also caused a ripple effect on energy trading, shipping operations, and the insurance market.
Wai Yue Loh, partner of DAC Beachcroft, and a specialist in shipping, trade, commodities and insurance law said he has been dealing with questions from shipping clients after the conflict in Iran broke out.
He said the commodities traders bear the brunt of Strait of Hormuz crisis and explained the interconnected vulnerabilities across the three industries most affected.
"It's easy to forget that the first industry directly affected would be the commodities traders who are buying and reselling crude oil coming out from the Middle East. Crude oil cargoes from this region account for about 25 percent or more of the world's crude oil supplies. The second industry affected would be the shipowners or the ship operators whose ships are chartered by these commodities traders, in simple terms hired by these commodity traders, to carry these cargoes from the Persian Gulf to refineries around the world for refining. These refined products are then on-sold to other buyers worldwide. The third would be the insurance industry that provides, amongst other things, war risk cover for ships that are trading globally," he said.
With the rising risks of war, shipping companies face not only security challenges but also complex legal issues such as rising insurance costs, increased uncertainty in contract performance, and the apportionment of liability, he added.
Hormuz Strait crisis delivers severe blow to global shipping industry
