Let’s Learn Chinese Rocket Terminologies

“Through the struggle, to the stars.”

Since time immemorial, the universe has always fascinated people. Perhaps it is due to its beauty. It contains millions of bright, colorful stars that put everyone who lays an eye on it in awe. Perchance it is because it is unknown. It is a vast expanse of unexplored territory holding secrets that humans want to uncover. Our reason to explore space might differ from each other. However, the pressing desire for us to bask in its beauty and mystery is the same.

Across history, some notable people studied space through their telescopes. Some revolutionized our knowledge about the universe. Some improved upon our understanding of it. However, only to examine the cosmos at a distance is not enough. That is why we send rockets with crews to investigate it first hand.

Now at the peak of modernization, China recently launched Shenzhou XIII神州十三号 (Shénzhōu shí sān hào) manned-spacecraft. They put Shenzhou XIII into orbit to fulfill three objectives. One, two to three extravehicular activities. Two installations of pertinent devices for mechanical arms. Three, various sci-tech experiments and applications.

Through the mission of Shenzhou XIII 神州十三号 (Shénzhōu shí sān hào), there will be a comprehensive assessment of the functionality of the necessary project various systems in the space station mission. That is to maintain a homeostatic environment in the space station.

Significance of this achievement

China aims to build its very own space station. To fulfill this objective, there will be four crewed- trips.

Shenzhou XIII 神州十三号 (Shénzhōu shí sān hào) “Divine Vessel” is the second crewed mission directed to the new space station. Shenzhou XIII and its three passengers, two men and one woman, blasted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern province of Gansu at 12:23 a.m. (1623 GMT on Friday). Wang Yaping, the sole woman in the mission, is the first-ever woman to live aboard the station. The crew will stay in the core module of a future space station for six months. That makes this mission the most extended orbit for Chinese astronauts. The operation is the longest orbit for Chinese astronauts. In 6 months, the crew will spend most of the time building and validating the technology installed on the space station.

The historic event garnered attention around the globe. Not only is the space program advancing at a rapid pace, but the feat also proved to the world that China has top-notched rocket technologies.

Origin of Chinese Rocket 中国火箭(Zhōngguó huǒjiàn)

中国火箭 (Zhōngguó huǒjiàn) Chinese rocket

Tāmen fāchū le yì méi huǒ jiàn

他们发出了一枚火箭。

They sent a rocket.

Huǒjiàn mǎshàng jiùyào fāshè le

火箭马上就要发射了。

A rocket will launch soon.

Dì yìjí yùnzǎi huǒjiàn shì yòng lái fāshè huǒjiàn de

第一级运载火箭是用来发射火箭的。

The first-stage vehicle is used to launch the rocket.

Rocket is one of the major inventions in ancient China. In 969 AD, during the Tang dynasty, China had invented gunpowder. The first use of gunpowder in China was incorporating it in arrows. The first formula used contains too little saltpeter rendering it unable to explode. However, the Song Generals, Yue Yifang and Feng Jisheng were ingenious. They strapped gunpowder incendiary to the arrows, creating the world’s first gunpowder-powered flying weapon. The rocket was composed of an arrow body and a cartridge made of bamboo and thick paper filled with gunpowder. The reaction force of the gas propelled the rocket forward, killing enemy soldiers in flight. The blueprint and the working principle of this earliest primitive rocket eventually became modern rockets. We essentially use modern skyrockets to study space. We launch detection instruments and spacecraft such as artificial satellites, spacecraft, and space shuttles to gather data outside our planet.

Know More About Chinese Shenzhou

With the recent launching of the Shenzhou XIII 神州十三号 (Shénzhōu shí sān hào) , China has the attention of the globe. In line with this, let us learn Chinese expressions relevant to Chinese Rockets and Shenzhou XIII “Divine Vessel.”

Let’s more key words of the topics

载人空间站 (zǎirén kōngjiān zhàn) manned space station

空间实验室 (kōngjiān shíyàn shì) space lab

在轨加注 (zài guǐ jiā zhù) in-orbit refuelling

货运飞船 (huòyùn fēichuán )cargo spacecraft

推进舱 (tuījìn cāng)propelling module

空间对接 (kōngjiān duìjiē)space docking

近地轨道 (jìn dì guǐdào)low-Earth orbit

运载火箭 (yùnzǎi huǒjiàn)Chinese carrier rocket

助推火箭 (zhù tuī huǒjiàn)Chinese booster rocket

发射场 (fāshè chǎng )Chinese launch site

可重复使用运载火箭 (kě chóngfù shǐyòng yùnzǎi huǒjiàn )reusable carrier rocket