Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft completes autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking with Tianhe core module

News on June 17 According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, the Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft successfully completed its orbital status setting after it entered orbit. At 15:54 on June 17, 2021, Beijing time, it will adopt autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking. The model was successfully docked at the forward port of the Tianhe core cabin, forming a three-cabin (ship) combination with the previously docked Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft. The entire rendezvous and docking process lasted about 6.5 hours.

This is the first rendezvous and docking with a manned spacecraft after the Tianhe core module was launched into orbit. According to the mission implementation plan, three astronauts will then enter the Tianhe core module from the Shenzhou 12 manned spacecraft.