China launches uncrewed Shenzhou spacecraft
Posted: Tue, Nov 1, 2011, 6:49 AM ET (1049 GMT)
A Long March rocket placed an uncrewed Shenzhou spacecraft into orbit early Tuesday on a mission to demonstrate docking technology essential to China's space station plans. The Long March 2F rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 5:58 pm EDT Monday (2158 GMT Monday, 5:58 am Beijing time Tuesday) and placed the Shenzhou 8 spacecraft into orbit. While the previous three Shenzhou missions were all crewed, this Shenzhou carried no people, but will instead attempt to rendezvous and dock with China's new Tiangong-1 module, the first such docking attempted by a Chinese spacecraft. That docking attempt is expected to take place later this week, with Shenzhou 8 returning to Earth after making two dockings with the module. A successful mission would clear the way for a crewed mission to Tiangong-1 next year and keep China on the path to its long-term goal of a permanent space station by the end of the decade.
A Long March rocket placed an uncrewed Shenzhou spacecraft into orbit early Tuesday on a mission to demonstrate docking technology essential to China's space station plans. The Long March 2F rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 5:58 pm EDT Monday (2158 GMT Monday, 5:58 am Beijing time Tuesday) and placed the Shenzhou 8 spacecraft into orbit. While the previous three Shenzhou missions were all crewed, this Shenzhou carried no people, but will instead attempt to rendezvous and dock with China's new Tiangong-1 module, the first such docking attempted by a Chinese spacecraft. That docking attempt is expected to take place later this week, with Shenzhou 8 returning to Earth after making two dockings with the module. A successful mission would clear the way for a crewed mission to Tiangong-1 next year and keep China on the path to its long-term goal of a permanent space station by the end of the decade.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Roscosmos replaces cosmonaut on next Crew Dragon mission to ISS
Posted: Sat, Dec 6 9:45 AM ET (1445 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, December 15
Satellites help tackle landfill methane leaks
ESA — 4:46 am ET (0946 GMT) SpaceX adds 27 satellites to its growing Starlink constellation
UPI — 4:45 am ET (0945 GMT) STMicro has shipped 5 billion chips for Starlink in past decade; that could double by 2027
Reuters — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) Hegseth Visits Alabama to Cement Redstone Arsenal as Future Home of Space Command
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) RocketLab sends Japanese communications satellite into orbit
UPI — 4:42 am ET (0942 GMT) |
