After successfully docking with the module on June 17, 2021, the crew of China's Shenzhou 12 space mission salutes for a photo in the Tianhe core module.China's President called the Tianhe space station module Wednesday, June 23 to offer his support for the Shenzhou 12 astronauts on their historic mission.President Xi Jinping called the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in order to congratulate three astronauts for a mission he described a "milestone", for China's space efforts under the China National Space Administration.Shenzhou 12 was the first crewed mission of Tianhe's 22.5-ton core module, China's space station. It launched into low Earth orbit on April 28.Video: China's first space station crew enters Tianhe moduleNie Haisheng and Liu Boming arrived at Tianhe about 6.5 hours after launch."You are the first astronauts to be stationed on the core module Tianhe and will conduct space missions for three month. Xi stated that all Chinese people care about you and your work in space.Xi asked commander Nie Haisheng about their lives, work and health. He replied that everything was going according to plan. Nie, who is currently on his third space trip, expressed satisfaction with the living conditions and work environment aboard Tianhe. He stated that astronauts from China now have an in-orbit home.Xi Jingping, the Chinese President, speaks with three astronauts from China's Shenzhou 12 space mission to the Tianhe station module from Beijing Aerospace Control Center. This was June 23, 2021. (Image credit to CMSELiu replied that the crew would conduct two extravehicular activity, or spacewalks. They will also perform a series of technical testing, including the use of a large mechanical arms to aid construction of the space station.On his first space mission Tang stated that he was able to make video calls with his family and had successfully adapted to microgravity.Xi is the General Secretary of China's Communist Party and the head of People's Liberation Army. He stated that China's space station would make revolutionary contributions to peaceful human use of outer space.Shenzhou 12 will be China's longest crewed mission to space and is expected to be the first Shenzhou 11 of 2016.Related: China's latest space newsShenzhou 13 is being prepared for launch at Tianhe's request in case of emergency. In 2022, the three-module Chinese space station will be complete.Although the call was short, it demonstrates both the strength of Chinese political support for space activities and the high level of national pride in China's accomplishments in space.Xi has previously made similar calls to the space program. He told crew members of Shenzhou 10 on board the Tiangong 1 space laboratory that the space dream was part of China's dream to become stronger in June 2013. The Chinese people will make greater strides in exploring space with the help of space programs. Xi also met earlier this year representatives from Chang'e 5 lunar sample back mission.China's network of Tianlian satellites orbiting in geostationary orbit, at 22,236 miles (35.786 kilometers) above Earth's equator, made the call possible. These satellites allow for constant communication with the Earth.The Tianlian system will enable astronauts to have group chats in space and on Earth.NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites network ( TDRS ), is able to perform a similar function, including facilitating communications to the International Space Station.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Spacedotcom
