"I envy them!" People from many countries spoke highly of the complete success of the Shenzhou 13 mission

People from many countries spoke highly of the complete success of the Shenzhou 13 mission

The return capsule of China's Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft successfully landed at the Dongfeng landing field on the 16th, and astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu, who had been on a mission on the space station for half a year, left the capsule safely and smoothly. The international community has paid great attention to this, and overseas media have reported on it in a timely and extensive manner. In an interview with reporters, some overseas experts and scholars congratulated the Shenzhou 13 manned mission on its complete success and were full of expectations for Sino-foreign space cooperation.

Widespread attention

Philippe Coue, a French Expert on Chinese Space Issues and author of many related books such as "Shenzhou, Chinese in Space", said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency on the 16th that the return of the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft to the earth was a "perfect success" achieved by China. Chinese astronauts have conducted a number of scientific experiments in space, and after the launch of the two space station experimental modules of Qingtian and Mengtian, China will carry out more scientific missions. He congratulated the three astronauts for pushing China's space industry to a higher level, and thanked them for brilliantly displaying traditional cultures such as the Chinese New Year in space. He said the Shenzhou 13 manned mission will help China's future space research efforts, especially in the exploration of the moon and Mars.

On the 16th, the German News Agency issued a detailed article detailing the manned mission of China's Shenzhou 13. The article said that the three astronauts stayed in the core module of the space station for 6 months, setting a new record for the length of continuous flight time of Chinese astronauts in orbit. During the orbital flight, the astronauts have carried out two outgoing activities and completed a series of experiments to prepare for the further construction of the Chinese space station. In addition, Wang Yaping is not only the first Chinese female astronaut to enter the Tianhe core module, but also the first Chinese woman to perform a spacewalk.

On the 16th, the Irish National Radio and Television Corporation reported the news of the smooth return of China's Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft to the ground in a prominent position on the home page of its website. According to the report, the three Chinese astronauts successfully returned to Earth after 183 days of space flight, and the manned mission will help the subsequent construction of the Chinese space station. China has been working to develop its own space station technology, has successfully launched a probe to Mars, and became the first country to achieve a soft landing of the probe on the far side of the moon.

Molly Silke, a scholar engaged in Chinese space policy research at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, said in an interview with the US space website a few days ago that Chinese astronauts have given vivid space lectures on the space station, aiming to stimulate public interest in science. Real-time interactions with Chinese astronauts truly demonstrate the technical capabilities and practicality of China's space program. Such activities help to enhance national pride and encourage young people to pursue science-based careers.

Pei Renlong, a veteran media person and current political observer in Brunei, said that Shenzhou 13 successfully completed China's longest manned flight so far, ending the last flight mission in the key technology verification stage of the space station, which is an important milestone in China's space industry and has accumulated a deep technical foundation and talents for the construction of the Tiangong space station.

Looking forward to cooperation

Pei Renlong said that the development speed of China's manned space flight is obvious to all, which is not only due to the struggle and dedication of Chinese astronauts, but also reflects China's advantage of concentrating on major events. China has always adhered to a pragmatic attitude of openness and cooperation in the field of space. Under the circumstances of tense relations between the United States and Russia and uncertainty about the future of the International Space Station, China's Tiangong space station is likely to become the only long-term manned spacecraft in low Earth orbit after completion, and then undertake the mission of the world's most important space integrated laboratory.

Kenyan international studies scholar Kavins Adehill said that the successful completion of the Shenzhou 13 manned mission is a major victory for China's space exploration program. As a major developing country, China's progress in space science is an encouragement to the vast number of developing countries. The development of China's space industry attracts developing countries, and China has carried out a series of space project cooperation with African countries to promote the economic and social development of African countries and benefit the production and life of African people.

Ramek Odada, an economics lecturer at the University of Science and Technology of Namibia, said that China has contributed its own strength to human exploration of the universe and hopes that China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Namibia to "help us cultivate our own aviation and aerospace talents, and look forward to the near future, our Namibian astronauts can board China's space station."

(According to Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 17)

"I envy them!"

—Thomas, a retired American astronaut, on the achievements of Shenzhou XIII

The three Chinese astronauts who successfully completed the Shenzhou 13 manned mission successfully landed on the 16th. In an exclusive interview with a Xinhua Reporter a few days ago, Retired US astronaut Don Thomas praised the tremendous achievements made by China's aerospace industry and looked forward to strengthening cooperation in the space field in all countries in the world and bringing benefits to all mankind living in the same homeland of the earth.

"I envy them!" Speaking of the three Chinese astronauts on the mission, Thomas told reporters that he stayed in space for a total of 44 days in his space career, while Shenzhou 13 worked in space for half a year during a mission, "the work they have done is incredible."

"I can see them in good shape, looking healthy, happy and excited. I know they're excited about returning to Earth. Thomas said: "I look forward to them sharing this flight experience with the Chinese people and everyone on Earth." We can't wait to get to know their experiences. ”

Thomas said that when he saw three Chinese astronauts teaching children on Earth on the space station, a strong personal feeling of being a peer came to mind. During the conversation, Thomas referred to the Chinese astronauts as "our astronauts", and his pride overflowed with words. "They're space travelers like me. Looking at them, I felt the kindness of family. ”

Thomas, 66, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was selected by NASA in 1990 as an astronaut. Between 1994 and 1997, Thomas flew four space missions aboard the USS Columbia and the Space Shuttle Discovery, making a total of 692 orbits around the ground.

Since retiring in 2007, Thomas has devoted himself to the transfer and popularization of aerospace knowledge by teaching and giving public lectures at universities, inspiring the younger generation of aspiring astronauts to realize their dreams.

Thomas told reporters that he has been paying close attention to the development of China's aerospace industry. When he listed a series of major achievements in China's aerospace industry in recent years, he was like a family treasure.

In 2019, China's Chang'e-4 achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the moon by a human probe; in 2020, the Chang'e-5 lunar probe returned to Earth with lunar soil; in 2021, the Zhurong Mars rover carried by the Tianwen-1 Mars probe successfully landed on Mars; from October 2021 to April 2022, shenzhou 13 crew stayed in orbit for half a year, creating a new record for the length of continuous flight time of Chinese astronauts...

Thomas said that as a latecomer in space exploration, China has made incredible progress in a short period of time. "It's a pleasure to watch The development of China [the aerospace industry]."

Speaking of international cooperation in the field of space, Thomas said that although there are political differences between countries, the common identity of astronauts in various countries is that of the messengers of the earth and should participate in space exploration activities on behalf of all mankind. He firmly believes that countries should cooperate to achieve the goal of establishing a joint research station on the moon and sending humans to Mars.

"People from Earth travel to other planets together, this is my dream of the future." Thomas said.

(Xinhua News Agency, Washington, April 16, reporter Deng Xianlai)

Source: People's Liberation Army Daily WeChat