Shenzhou 7 returns to Earth
Posted: Sun, Sep 28, 2008, 9:27 AM ET (1327 GMT)
China's third human spaceflight mission came to a successful conclusion Sunday when the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft safely landed in northern China. The Shenzhou 7 reentry capsule, carrying three astronauts, landed in Inner Mongolia at 5:38 am EDT (0938 GMT). The three crewmembers, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng, emerged from the capsule about 45 minutes later and were reported to be in good health. The landed ended a 68-hour mission highlighted by China's first EVA, a 15-minute spacewalk by Zhai. The Chinese government has not released formal plans for its next manned mission, but the next two Shenzhou missions are expected to be unmanned flights to test rendezvous and docking technology, and perhaps also create a rudimentary space lab for the next piloted mission.
China's third human spaceflight mission came to a successful conclusion Sunday when the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft safely landed in northern China. The Shenzhou 7 reentry capsule, carrying three astronauts, landed in Inner Mongolia at 5:38 am EDT (0938 GMT). The three crewmembers, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming, and Jing Haipeng, emerged from the capsule about 45 minutes later and were reported to be in good health. The landed ended a 68-hour mission highlighted by China's first EVA, a 15-minute spacewalk by Zhai. The Chinese government has not released formal plans for its next manned mission, but the next two Shenzhou missions are expected to be unmanned flights to test rendezvous and docking technology, and perhaps also create a rudimentary space lab for the next piloted mission.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 4
Coolest spacecraft ever in orbit around L2
ESA — 4:24 am ET (0824 GMT) Moonwalker Aldrin says we should colonise Mars
The Herald — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) Interest in space memorabilia takes a leap
Financial Times — 4:22 am ET (0822 GMT) Evidence mounts that Mars was once habitable
Arizona Republic — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) First Moon images sent back by Nasa orbiter show incredible details just 10ft across
The Daily Mail — 4:17 am ET (0817 GMT) |