View source for Astronomy:Shenzhou 12

{{Short description|2021 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name               = Shenzhou 12
| names_list         = 
| image              = Shenzhou 12 launch (cropped).jpg
| image_caption      = Launch of Shenzhou 12 on a [[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]]
| image_size         = 250px
| mission_type       = Tiangong space station crew transport
| operator           = China Manned Space Agency
| COSPAR_ID          = 2021-053A
| SATCAT             = 48852
| website            = 
| mission_duration   = {{time interval|2021-06-17 01:22:27|2021-09-17 05:34|show=dhm}}
| spacecraft         = Shenzhou 12
| spacecraft_type    = [[Engineering:Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]]
| spacecraft_bus     = 
| manufacturer       = [[Company:China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation]]
| launch_mass        = 
| landing_mass       = 
| launch_date        = 17 June 2021, 01:22:27 [[Physics:Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]<ref name="sfn-20210617">{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/06/17/chinese-astronauts-enter-tiangong-space-station-for-first-time/|title=Chinese astronauts enter Tiangong space station for first time|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=17 June 2021|access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>
| launch_rocket      = [[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]]
| launch_site        = Jiuquan, SLS-1
| launch_contractor  = [[Organization:China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology|China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology]]
| landing_date       = 17 September 2021, 05:34 UTC
| landing_site       = [[Place:Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia]], China
| crew_size          = 3
| crew_members       = Nie Haisheng<br/>Liu Boming<br/>Tang Hongbo
| crew_callsign      = 
| crew_EVAs          = 2
| crew_EVA_duration  = 12 hours 41 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/tiangong/english/crew_1.htm|title=Tiangong: Expedition 1|website=spacefacts.de|date=2021-08-20|access-date=2021-08-20}}</ref>
| orbit_reference    = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric orbit]]
| orbit_regime       = [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|Low Earth orbit]]
| orbit_inclination  = 41.5°
| apsis              = gee
| docking            = {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
  | docking_target   = Tiangong space station
  | docking_type     = dock
  | docking_port     = ''Tianhe'' forward
  | docking_date     = 17 June 2021, 07:54 UTC<ref name="SF">{{cite web|last=Becker|first=Joachim|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/mission/english/shenzhou_12.htm|title=Spaceflight mission report: Shenzhou 12 |website=spacefacts.de|date=17 June 2021|access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>
  | undocking_date   = 16 September 2021, 00:56 UTC<ref name="sfn-20210916"/>
  | time_docked      = {{time interval|17 June 2021 07:54|16 September 2021 00:56|show=dhm}}
 }}
| insignia           = Shenzhou 12.png
| insignia_caption   = Shenzhou 12 mission patch
| insignia_size      = 200px
| crew_photo         = Shenzhou 12 crew press conference.jpg
| crew_photo_caption = Tang Hongbo, Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming
| crew_photo_size    = 300px
| programme          = [[Astronomy:Shenzhou program|Shenzhou program]]
| previous_mission   = [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 11|Shenzhou 11]]
| next_mission       = [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 13|Shenzhou 13]]
}}

'''Shenzhou 12''' ({{zh|s=神舟十二号|p=Shénzhōu shí'èr hào|l=Divine Boat Number 12}}) was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 17 June 2021. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) [[Astronaut|taikonauts]] on board a [[Engineering:Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]] spacecraft. The mission was the seventh crewed Chinese spaceflight and the twelfth flight overall of the [[Astronomy:China Manned Space Program|Shenzhou program]]. It was the first flight to Tiangong, and the first Chinese crewed spaceflight since [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 11|Shenzhou 11]] in 2016.<ref name="nsf-20210301">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2021/03/china-preparing-to-build-tiangong-station-in-2021-complete-by-2022/|title=China preparing to build Tiangong station in 2021, complete by 2022|last=Barbosa|first=Rui C.|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=1 March 2021|access-date=1 March 2021}}</ref> 

== Background ==
Shenzhou 12 was originally planned as the second mission to visit the experimental, single-module [[Engineering:Tiangong-2|Tiangong-2]] space station, following [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 11|Shenzhou 11]]. In 2016, plans for a second mission to Tiangong-2 were cancelled, and Shenzhou 12 was instead designated as the first crewed mission to the larger modular Tiangong space station, whose first module, the ''Tianhe'' core module, was launched on 29 April 2021.<ref name="CSF">{{cite web|url=https://vk.com/chinaspaceflight?w=wall-119361981_6416|title=ChinaSpaceFlight|access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref>

The crew of Shenzhou 12 was announced on 16 June 2021.<ref name="crew">{{cite news |date=16 June 2021 |title=China unveils Shenzhou-12 astronauts for space station construction |agency=Xinhua News Agency |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-06/16/c_1310010141.htm |access-date=17 June 2021}}</ref>

== Mission ==
The flight launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 17 June 2021 at 01:22 UTC, following the launch of the Tianzhou 2 cargo spacecraft.<ref name="Garcia&Wang">{{cite news |last1=Garcia |first1=Carlos |last2=Wang |first2=Shubing |date=2021-06-17 |title=Chinese astronauts board space station module in historic mission |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-launches-crewed-spacecraft-shenzhou-12-historic-mission-2021-06-17/ |access-date=2021-06-18}}</ref> Just over 6.5 hours after launch, the spacecraft docked with the ''Tianhe'' core module's forward docking port. The crew entered the station later that same day at 10:48 UTC, becoming the first crew to visit Tiangong.<ref name="sfn-20210617" /> 

During the mission, the [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 13|Shenzhou 13]] spacecraft remained on standby to serve as an emergency rescue vehicle.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHZj-0DyyOg |title=Engineers Prepare Backup for Shenzhou-12 to Ensure Astronauts' Safety |date=2021-06-18 |publisher=CCTV Video News Agency |access-date=2021-06-18 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

The Shenzhou 12 crew activated the station, carried out two [[Astronomy:Extravehicular activity|spacewalks]], and verified key technologies such as [[Engineering:Robotic arm|robotic arm]] operation, resource recycling, and long-term life support during the three-month mission.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 June 2021 |editor-last=Liu |editor-first=Zekang |title=Shenzhou-12 crewed spaceship launch a complete success |url=http://en.cmse.gov.cn/news/202106/t20210616_48141.html |access-date=24 June 2021 |publisher=China Manned Space Engineering Office}}</ref><ref name="sfn-20210617"/>

=== Spacewalks ===
On 4 July 2021, the first of two scheduled spacewalks was carried out by Liu Boming and Tang Hongbo. The taikonauts tested an updated version of the [[Engineering:Feitian space suit|Feitian space suit]], completed installation of the station's robotic arm, and installed exterior equipment for use on future missions, including a camera lifting bracket.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-04 |title=Chinese astronauts complete first space walk outside new space station |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/china/chinese-astronauts-complete-first-space-walk-outside-new-tiangong-space-n1273060 |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> This marked the second ever Chinese spacewalk, after Zhai Zhigang's spacewalk nearly 13 years prior on [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 7|Shenzhou 7]]. The spacewalk lasted for 6 hours and 46 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Xie|first1=Echo|last2=Zheng |first2=William|title=Chinese astronauts carry out country's second spacewalk|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3139751/chinese-astronauts-carry-out-countrys-second-spacewalk|newspaper=South China Morning Post|date=4 July 2021|access-date=4 July 2021}}</ref>

On 20 August 2021, Nie Haisheng and Liu Boming carried out the second scheduled spacewalk of the mission. The two tested spacecraft equipment, installed a backup thermal control pump, and installed and raised panoramic camera D on the ''Tianhe'' core module. The spacewalk lasted for 5 hours and 55 minutes.<ref>{{cite web|title=神舟十二号航天员乘组圆满完成第二次出舱活动全部既定任务 计划9月中旬返回|url=http://www.news.cn/tech/2021-08/20/c_1127780104.htm|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=20 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Astronauts conduct second Chinese space station spacewalk|url=https://spacenews.com/astronauts-conduct-second-chinese-space-station-spacewalk/|publisher=SpaceNews|date=20 August 2021}}</ref>

=== Rendezvous test & return to Earth ===
Shenzhou 12 undocked from Tiangong on 16 September 2021 at 00:56 UTC. Following undocking, the spacecraft performed a test of radial rendezvous procedures which would be utilized on the following mission, [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 13#Background|Shenzhou 13]].<ref name="sfn-20210916">{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=16 September 2021 |title=Shenzhou crew departs Chinese space station, heads for Earth |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/09/16/shenzhou-crew-departs-chinese-space-station-heads-for-earth/ |access-date=17 September 2021 |publisher=Spaceflight Now}}</ref> After a successful test, Shenzhou 12 departed the station and returned to Earth on 17 September 2021, landing at the Dongfeng landing site in the [[Earth:Gobi Desert|Gobi Desert]] in [[Place:Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia]] at 05:34 UTC.<ref>{{cite web |date=2021-09-17 |title=Chinese astronauts return after 90-day mission to space station |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/chinese-astronauts-return-after-90-day-mission-space-station-2021-09-17/ |access-date=2021-09-19 |work=Reuters}}</ref>

== Crew ==
{{Spaceflight crew
| terminology    = Crew member
| references     =

| position1      = Commander
| crew1_up       = {{Flagicon|CHN}} Nie Haisheng
| agency1_up     = PLAAC
| flights1_up    = Third

| position2      = Operator 
| crew2_up       = {{Flagicon|CHN}} Liu Boming
| agency2_up     = PLAAC
| flights2_up    = Second

| position3      = System Operator
| crew3_up       = {{Flagicon|CHN}} Tang Hongbo
| agency3_up     = PLAAC
| flights3_up    = First
}}Nie Haisheng previously flew on [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 6|Shenzhou 6]] and [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 10|Shenzhou 10]].

Liu Boming previously flew on [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 7|Shenzhou 7]].<ref name="spacenews">{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=17 June 2021 |title=Shenzhou-12 docks with Tianhe space station module |url=https://spacenews.com/shenzhou-12-docks-with-tianhe-space-station-module/ |magazine=SpaceNews |access-date=19 June 2021}}</ref>

=== Backup crew ===
{{Spaceflight crew
| terminology    = Crew member
| references     =

| position1      = Commander
| crew1_up       = {{Flagicon|CHN}} Zhai Zhigang
| agency1_up     = PLAAC

| position2      = Operator 
| crew2_up       = {{Flagicon|CHN}} Wang Yaping
| agency2_up     = PLAAC

| position3      = System Operator
| crew3_up       = {{Flagicon|CHN}} Ye Guangfu
| agency3_up     = PLAAC
}}The backup crew of Shenzhou 12 would fly to the Tiangong space station as the crew of [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 13|Shenzhou 13]] in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=China announces Shenzhou-13 crew, including first female to space station |url=http://www.news.cn/english/2021-10/15/c_1310245447.htm |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=www.news.cn}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Engineering:Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou (spacecraft)]]
* Tiangong space station
* [[Engineering:Tianzhou (spacecraft)|Tianzhou (spacecraft)]]
* [[Engineering:List of Tiangong space station spacewalks|List of Tiangong space station spacewalks]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==


[[Category:Human spaceflights]]

{{Sourceattribution|Shenzhou 12}}