Rocket propellant filling underway for upcoming Shenzhou-23 crewed mission

The Long March-2F Y23 carrier rocket is undergoing its propellant filling process for the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission slated for 23:08 Sunday (Beijing Time).

The propellant loading operation began at 11:00 Saturday morning, marking a critical milestone in pre-launch preparations for an upcoming space mission.

The fuel loading phase, which commenced first, was successfully completed around 13:00. The operation has since transitioned to oxidizer loading, with full propellant loading expected to be completed by approximately 17:00 Saturday.

According to experts from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the Y23 rocket represents a significant advancement over its predecessor, the Y22.

The new rocket incorporates 10 technical improvements on the vehicle itself and six additional upgrades to ground support systems.

These enhancements focus on refined raw materials, advanced manufacturing processes, and upgraded electronic components, all designed to boost overall reliability and streamline pre-launch execution procedures.

A notable innovation in this mission is the upgraded propellant loading module, which now features enhanced real-time meteorological data processing capabilities. This advancement allows the rocket system to dynamically adjust loading operations in response to environmental variables such as temperature and humidity, significantly improving both operational efficiency and safety margins during the critical fueling process.

"This afternoon, the main task is loading the oxidizer. The oxidizer loading will be completed around five o'clock. After loading is complete, our pipelines will be removed from the tower and disassembled. The subsequent work involves rocket verticality adjustment and rocket aiming. Then, from tonight until tomorrow before launch, we will monitor the pressure in the rocket's propellant tanks," said Xu Zheng, an expert with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

Shenzhou-23 is the seventh crewed mission during the application and development stage of China's space station, and the 40th flight mission of the country's manned space program.

Rocket propellant filling underway for upcoming Shenzhou-23 crewed mission

The Eleventh Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) concluded on Friday at the UN headquarters in New York City, without reaching a consensus on a final document.

The Eleventh Review Conference was held from April 27 to May 22.

The president of the conference Do Hung Viet, Vietnam's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that four drafts of the outcome document had been circulated during the meeting, but delegates ultimately failed to reach a consensus.

He urged parties to take steps to lower nuclear risks and push for an update of the NPT's mechanisms.

In a statement released on Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to take proactive steps to de-escalate tensions, lower nuclear risks, and eventually remove the threat posed by nuclear weapons.

The NPT was signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1970. Review conferences take place every five years, with the 12th session set to convene in New York in 2031.

UN nuclear nonproliferation review conference closes with no deal