China launched the Shenzhou XII spacecraft, its seventh manned spaceflight, on Thursday morning, sending three astronauts to the core module¹ of its permanent space station.The spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 9:22 am at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

6月17日9时22分，搭载神舟十二号载人飞船的长征二号F遥十二运载火箭，在酒泉卫星发射中心点火发射。三名航天员将乘坐神舟十二号载人飞船到达我国永久空间站核心舱。神舟十二号载人飞船是我国第七次载人飞船任务。

 

按计划，神舟十二号飞船入轨后，将采用自主快速交会对接模式对接于天和核心舱的前向端口（conduct a fast automated² rendezvous³ and docking with the in-orbit space station core module Tianhe），与天和核心舱、天舟二号货运飞船形成组合体（ form a complex with Tianhe and the cargo⁴ craft Tianzhou-2）。航天员进驻核心舱（be stationed in the core module），执行天地同步作息制度进行工作生活。驻留约三个月后，搭乘飞船返回舱返回东风着陆场（the Dongfeng Landing Site）。

 

根据神舟十二号载人飞行任务总体安排，三名航天员聂海胜、刘伯明和汤洪波在轨期间将主要完成四个方面的工作，计划开展两次出舱活动（extravehicular activities）及舱外作业（extravehicular operations）。中国载人航天工程办公室主任助理季启明介绍，这四项主要任务包括：

 

First, they will operate and manage the complex, including the in-orbit test of the Tianhe module, verification of the recycling and life support system, testing and operation training of the robotic arm, as well as management of materials and waste.

开展核心舱组合体的日常管理。包括天和核心舱在轨测试、再生生保系统验证、机械臂测试与操作训练，以及物资与废弃物管理等。

 

Second, they will move, assemble and test extravehicular spacesuits and perform two extravehicular activities for work including assembling an extravehicular toolbox, lifting the panoramic⁵ camera and installing extended pump sets.

开展出舱活动及舱外作业。包括舱外服在轨转移、组装、测试，进行两次出舱活动，开展舱外工具箱的组装、全景摄像机抬升和扩展泵组的安装等工作。

 

Third, they will carry out space science experiments and technology experiments, as well as public outreach activities.

开展空间科学实验和技术试验，以及有关科普教育活动。

 

Fourth, they will manage their own health through daily life care, physical exercise, and regular monitoring and assessment⁶ of their own health status.

按计划开展日常的生活照料、身体锻炼，定期监测、维持与评估自身健康状态。

 

按计划，我国空间站将于2022年前后完成建造。

 

2021年4月29日，我国用长征五号乙运载火箭（Long March 5B heavy-lift rocket）将天和核心舱发射进入轨道。

 

Based on project plans, the Tianzhou 3 cargo ship will be launched in September to dock with Tianhe and the next month, another three-crew team will fly with the Shenzhou XIII to the module to stay there for six months.

按照计划，今年9月，将发射天舟三号货运飞船，升空后与天和对接；10月，另外3名航天员将搭乘神舟十三号飞船抵达核心舱，并驻留6个月。

 

In 2022, two large space labs will be launched to connect with the core module. Moreover, two manned missions and two robotic cargo flights will be made that year to continue construction of the Tiangong station, which is scheduled to become complete and start formal operation around the end of 2022.

2022年，将发射两个大型太空实验室，与核心舱对接。之后还将发射两次载人任务和两次货运飞船任务，继续推进天宫空间站的建设。到2022年底，空间站有望完成组装，开始正式运行。

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