Global Times reported on Sept. 2 that the crew of the Shenzhou-12, who are currently onboard China’s Tianhe space station core module, are prepared to teach their first lessons from space to Chinese students on Earth, which is the second such lesson in China’s space history. The lesson will be broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV), and the special program is scheduled to air on Sept. 8, Wednesday evening, to mark the first day of new semester in China. (https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202109/1233030.shtml)
The crew is expected to lecture on topics such as “Dressed in blue with red embroidered on the chest,” “Oceans of stars are always where we are headed,” and “We are always ready to put on feitian armor when the country is calling for duty,” reported Global Times.
“In a special PE lesson, the three taikonauts will also perform Taichi Kongfu some 400 km above Earth in the orbiting Tianhe spacecraft, together with students on Earth, according to CCTV.”
Shenzhou-12 mission commander Nie Haisheng will present a group picture of the taikonauts’ team, as well as a flute he carried to space, and show off his sweet potato plant, grown in space.
“Yang Liwei, the country’s first astronaut and director of China Manned Space Engineering Office, will also share his thoughts and give a speech on ‘Chinese People Come to Space, for the Peace and Advancement of All Mankind.’”
The first lecture delivered from space took place in 2013 by Shenzhou-10 crew member, female taikonaut Wang Yaping, when she was onboard the Tiangong-1 space lab module. She broadcasted live from space to 330 elementary and middle school students in Beijing, as more than 60 million students and teachers also watched the televised broadcast from around China.
