Chinese space-tracking ship sets sail for new missions

Nanjing, China (SPX) Dec 20, 2022 - China's space-tracking ship, Yuanwang 3, set sail on Sunday for a new round of spacecraft monitoring missions. The ship, which is a second-generation vessel and responsible for monitoring high-, medium-, and low-orbit satellites, spaceships, and space station modules, has a long history of service. It was launched over 20 years ago and has completed more than 100 missions with a 100% success rate.

The crew members, who will spend the New Year holiday and Spring Festival on this voyage, examined facilities, received training, and replenished supplies before setting sail to ensure the success of the missions. This year, Yuanwang 3 has already spent more than 120 days at sea, sailing over 33,000 nautical miles, and completed four monitoring tasks, including one for the Shenzhou XIV manned spaceflight.

Yuanwang 3 is an essential part of China's space program, providing vital support and assistance to the country's spacecraft and satellites as they orbit the Earth. The ship has tracked the Shenzhou spaceships, the Chang'e lunar probes, and BeiDou satellites, among others.

As Yuanwang 3 sets sail on its latest mission, it represents the ongoing commitment of the Chinese space program to explore and understand the mysteries of the cosmos. With its state-of-the-art technology and highly trained crew, the ship will no doubt continue to play a vital role in the advancement of space exploration in the years to come.

The ship's voyage is not without its challenges, however. The crew members will have to endure long periods of isolation at sea, as well as the physical and mental stresses that come with working in such a demanding environment. But for the members of the Yuanwang 3 crew, the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of space exploration is more than worth it.