China counts down to manned space mission

Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:13am EDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China will launch its third manned space mission in October with a crew of three, state media said on Thursday of the latest milestone in an ambitious space program.

China became only the third country to put a man into space using its own rocket in 2003 after the former Soviet Union and the United States. It sent two astronauts into space in October 2005.

"The Shenzhou VII manned space mission will be carried out at an appropriate time in October this year," Xinhua said, quoting a spokesman for the China Manned Space Engineering Office.

A three-member crew and a back-up team had been confirmed, Xinhua said.

One of the astronauts would conduct a space walk, unprecedented for Chinese, and would carry out "relative scientific experiments", the spokesman was quoted as saying.

Shenzhou means "divine vessel" in Chinese and is also a homonym of a poetic reference for China -- "divine land".

China launched its first lunar probe, the Chang'e 1, named after a mythical goddess who flew to the moon, in October 2007.

(Reporting by Guo Shipeng; Editing by Nick Macfie)

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMed...K34666020080612


This undated picture shows Chinese astronauts practise extravehicular task during underwater zero-gravity training. China's Shenzhou VII manned space mission, which will include the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut, is to launch in October. [Xinhua]



This undated picture shows Chinese astronauts practice extravehicular task during underwater zero-gravity training. China's Shenzhou VII manned space mission, which will include the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut, is to launch in October. [Xinhua]

Pakistan should negotiate to send astronauts too, a man and a woman.

Londo molari and Thana Tariqqqq.

Breakthrough in next-generation Long March rocket

2008-07-03

BEIJING -- China has made a breakthrough in developing its next generation of space-launch vehicle Long March V, which is scheduled for operation by 2014, said sources with the nation's launch vehicle academy.

Significant progress has been made on the rocket engine and the building of a production plant.

The rocket's 120-tonne liquid oxygen-kerosene engine had passed initial tests and would be put into field tests by the year end, said Liang Xiaohong, vice president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology

Li Hong, president of the launch vehicle academy, said the Long March V would meet the requirement of large-payload low Earth orbit (LEO) and geosynchronous transfer orbit (GEO) missions for the next two to three decades.
With four boosters, the 59.5-meter-high environmentally friendly rocket's launching weight would reach 643 tonnes. It would be able to deliver a 25-tonne payload to an LEO, compared with the present 10 tonnes, and a 14-tonne payload to a GEO, compared with 5.5 tonnes now, said China Central Television in a report.

The 14-tonne payload to a GEO means the rocket can carry a heavier satellite or more satellites at one time while the 25-tonne payload to an LEO will enable it to carry the Shenzhou-series spacecraft, said Li Dong, a designer of Long March V.

The rocket is five meters wide and cannot be transported via railway or expressway to any of the nation's current launch centers. As a result, a production plant has been built in the coastal Tianjin where the rockets will be shipped by sea to a new launch facility at Wenchang in the southern province of Hainan.

The plant has a total investment of 4.5 billion yuan (657 million U.S. dollars). The first phase of its construction will be completed at the end of next year.

The Long March rockets have carried out 107 missions since 1970. The first rocket of the Long March family was launched on April 24, 1970, sending China's first satellite Dongfanghong-1 into space.

Most recently, a Long March-3B rocket lifted a new telecommunications satellite, Zhongxing-9, into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern Sichuan Province on June 9.

Zhongxing-9, a satellite ordered by China Satcom from the France-based Thales Alenia Space, will be used for live television broadcast and put into use before the Beijing Olympic Games next month.

The next-generation rocket was also expected to contribute in the nation's space probe.

Zhang Bainan, chief designer of Shenzhou VII, said Tuesday that the research team that developed the spacecraft, China's third manned space launch, would start final testing after arriving at a northwestern satellite launch center in a few days.

China successfully put two manned spacecraft into orbit in 2003 and 2005. Shenzhou VII is expected to be launched in October this year.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07...ent_6816916.htm

lol...long march...lets send aitezaz to mars on this..lol

China almost done with map of moon surface

2008-07-07

BEIJING -- China had collected all the data needed to draw its first full map of the moon surface and was almost done with the mapping work, Sun Jiadong, the chief designer of the country's Chang'e -1 lunar probe has said.

The lunar probe, launched on October 24 last year, was running sound and well, Sun was quoted as saying by Sunday's Beijing News.

China published its first picture of the moon on November 26 last year, captured by the Chang'e-1, the country's first lunar orbiter.

The future of the Chang'e-1, after the end of its one-year stay on the orbit, had not been decided, he said, adding that each and every system of the orbiter is working normally.

The launch of Chang'e-1 is the first step of the country's three-stage lunar probe program, which also includes the launch of a lunar rover for a soft landing and a second rover that is to collect lunar soil and stone samples for research.

China plans to land its first lunar rover in 2013.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07...ent_6822737.htm

One of the missions of SZ 7 will be release and recover of a micro- (10-100kg) or a nano-(1-10kg) satellite. This might remind some people about the story of a parasitic satellite -- a satellite killer. At war time China could launch a space vehicle carrying a big number of parasite satellites which could be released in the proximity of enemy satellites at different positions. These tiny-satellites could then re-direct and attach themselves onto the hostile satellites. When orders received they could explode!

The test scheme will include 1) the micro-satellite returns to the SZ7 with its own power (attachment) and 2) the Taikonauts recovers the baby from the mother ship (capture).

China's astronauts to wear domestic, Russian-made suits


www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-23 14:29:13

　 BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) -- China has two types of space suits-- one domestic, one from Russia -- for three "taikonauts" in the third manned launch, reportedly scheduled for October, a senior scientist has said.

The taikonaut who would do the space walk might wear a domestic suit, designed according to local standards, including the seaming technology, said Zhao Changxi, general technologist with the Beijing Satellite Manufacturing Factory, in an online interview atsohu.com on Tuesday.

The factory is responsible for making the seats, the pipeline system and the main structure of the re-entry, orbital and ancillary modules.

According to Zhao, when the spaceship, Shenzhou VII, enters orbit, two of the three crew will go to the vacuum module. One will conduct a space walk; the other will be there for emergencies.

Zhao said neither space suit has a power system. An electric umbilical cord will link the taikonaut and the ship, providing power and information.

He said in the future, the country would rely on domestic suits.

He also said that cameras would be mounted outside and inside of the ship for live broadcasting.

China put manned spacecraft into orbit in 2003 and 2005.

Shenzhou VII is expected to be launched in October. Earlier reports said a crew of six had been chosen, three of whom were back-ups.

While the last mission of Shenzhou VI, with a crew of two, was aimed at multiple days of manned flight, this time the task might be more stringent as one of its main goals was the space walk, Zhao said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/...ent_8754702.htm

After US and Russia, China is the next country with advanced space prograamme, what is exciting is how fast China is moving in the space race. Japan is very far behind.

One reason is because China invested heavily in ballistic missile technology and rockets in the 1970s and 1980s and that hard work has paid off.

All the very best to our Chinese freinds.

It is not that Japan doesn't want to or incapable of doing so, the reasons lie somewhere else and they are helpless. You'll recall that in '07 Japan launched the moon probe a few weeks ahead of China's Chang'E-1 to claim the no.1 spot in Asian deep space exploration. What few knows is that both China and the US helped them in a variety of ways. The US, as a matter of policy, would keep quiet of such activity and China would never acknowledge having anything to do with it. During the Chang'E-1 trip, the ESA provided China with supports. It is a very complicated world out there.

Don't underestimate the Japanese.

As the Chinese space station are planning for years, I expect to see some Pakistani astronauts visit the station or work in the station in the near future.

Rocket for manned space mission at launch center

2008-08-06

JIUQUAN - The Long-March II-F rocket for the launch of China's manned spacecraft Shenzhou VII has arrived at the launch center in northwest China's Gansu Province.

The rocket is set to send the Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Three astronauts aboard the spacecraft are expected to make the first space walk by Chinese astronauts, according to official sources.

Chinese engineers have made 36 technical improvements with the new rocket, making it more stable and reliable and more comfortable for the pilots.

With the installation of remote graphic measuring equipment, the operation of some key parts of the rocket can be monitored.

In the coming few days, the rocket will be checked, tied up with the boosters and be connected with the vehicle.




http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-08...t_6908007_2.htm

Shenzhou VII assembled for manned space mission

2008-08-07


Aeronautical scientists assemble the three capsules of the Shenzhou VII manned spacecraft at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province, July 18, 2008. Three astronauts aboard the spacecraft are expected to make the first space walk by Chinese astronauts later this year.

China advances space shuttle launch date

2008-9-2


THE launch of China’s third manned space shuttle will be brought forward to the end of this month from the previously planned October, a Guangzhou-based newspaper reported today.

The launch of Shenzhou VII is expected to take place before October 1 as that will provide the best launch window, Yangcheng Evening News said.

Liftoff is expected to take place between the closing of the current Beijing Paralympic Games and the week-long National Day holiday, the newspaper said.

The space shuttle, which was transported to Jiuquan satellite launch center in Gansu Province in July, is now undergoing testing at the site, the report added.

Areas to recycle the spacecraft have been chosen in Wulanchabu City in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The city has already set up a 40-member team to work with military officers for search and recycling work after the launch, the newspaper said.

Compared with Shenzhou VI, China's second manned space mission with a crew of two, Shenzhou VII has more stringent technological requirements. One of its three astronauts is scheduled to conduct a space walk, the first Chinese to walk in space.

A Long March 2F carrier rocket will be used for the mission, which will be more complex than China's previous two manned space flights.

The Shenzhou VII will also release a small inspection satellite to monitor the main craft.

China successfully put manned spacecraft into orbit in 2003 and 2005.

The country’s next phase in the final frontier is to have a state of the art manned space station.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/?id=3...p;type=National

Optimal conditions set for spacewalk

2008-09-11


Bringing forward the launch date of China's third manned spacecraft by one month will maximize conditions for the country's highly anticipated inaugural spacewalk, experts have said.

The Shenzhou VII spacecraft was first scheduled for take off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province at the end of October.

The spacecraft was later rescheduled for take off between Sept 25 and 30.

Compared with the initial launching window in October, the position of the sun during the new period would enable astronauts to walk out of the space module in sunlight and avoid returning in "total darkness", the Beijing Evening News recently quoted an expert as saying.

The exact launch date at the end of this month will be decided by the weather conditions at the launch center, said Jiao Weixin, professor with the School of Earth and Space Science at Peking University.

The launch could be postponed because of strong gales that could cause the rocket to veer off from its set course, he said.

The best climate for launching the manned spacecraft include zero rainfall, a ground wind speed of less than 8 m per second, a minimum horizontal visibility of 20 km, and no lightning in nine hours before and after the launch, Jiao said.

Drizzles and the temperature will usually pose no hindrance to the launch, he added.

As for the sandstorm that hit western Gansu province on Sunday, meteorologists said it is unlikely the conditions will interfere with the launch.
The sandstorm had started to wane on Monday and moved to Lanzhou in the south, posing no threat to the launch, meteorologists were quoted by the Beijing News as saying.

Earlier reports had said that the Shenzhou VII spacecraft will be launched on a Long March 2F rocket.

On its return, the spacecraft will reportedly land within Wulanchabu, a city in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

So far, engineers have installed the propellant in the spacecraft, a spokesman of the mission said earlier this week.

The much-awaited mission is the second stage of the country's three-staged manned space program, which seeks to launch a manned spacecraft, set up a space laboratory, and build a space station before 2020.

China became the third country to send a person into space on its own in 2003. In 2005, the country sent two more astronauts on a five-day flight on Shenzhou VI.

On Shenzhou VII, there will be three astronauts, and one of them is expected to conduct a spacewalk.

The astronauts will use a Chinese-designed and Chinese-made airlock module for extra vehicular activity - work done by an astronaut away from the Earth and outside of a spacecraft. The spacesuit is reportedly designed for such missions of up to seven hours.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09...ent_7016457.htm

Yuanwang 5 set on sail on 11.9.2008.

what is it ?

Yuanwang = 远望, the space tracking (survey, event) ship.



China to groom new generation of astronauts
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09...ent_7020530.htm
Updated: 2008-09-12 07:05

China will groom a new generation of astronauts for its future space programs, Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po newspaper reported Thursday.

New blood will be needed in four to five years' time, as the present generation of astronauts, including China's first, Yang Liwei, are all in their 40s, it said.

Yang, who is also deputy director of the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, told the newspaper about 14 people will be recruited.

They must be in excellent physical and psychological health, and be able to endure extreme environments, a source said.

The candidates will most likely be selected from air force pilots who have impeccable flight records, the source said.

The average age will be 30, although those younger with the right qualifications will also be considered, the source said.

They will be expected to handle more complex tasks than their predecessors, as China in the future plans spacecraft rendezvous and dockings, the launching of space laboratories, and a space station.

In another development, a search-and-rescue drill was held near the mouth of the Yangtze River on Wednesday to prepare for any emergencies or the unexpected fall of Shenzhou VII's re-entry capsule during launch.

Using a mock capsule, maritime search-and-rescue teams found it within an hour, the China Central Television Station reported.

A fixed-wing aircraft was sent to locate the capsule. A helicopter was then sent to the location, where it released an orange smoke cloud and landed rescuers to free the astronauts. The astronauts were then transported to a ship for a medical checkup.

Zhang Jianqi, deputy commander of the Shenzhou VII mission, said rescuers must be able to save the astronauts within 48 hours of the capsule's fall.

The manned Shenzhou VII spacecraft is expected to be launched at an appropriate time between Sept 25 and 30 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu province.

God Speed!!!

1, 2, 3 and 6 already left?

A launch update:
All five Yuanwang space event ships have arrived at their respective assigned stations in the Pacific and Atlantic.
According to Xinhua, Yuanwang 3 was the first to sail last month followed by Yuanwang 1 and 2. Yuanwang 5 and 6 were the last to leave port. Zhenzhou VII will be the first mission for Yuanwang 6.