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
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, January 15
ESA hosts China's space leaders
ESA — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) Starlink reportedly made free in Iran - but protesters are taking huge risks by using it
BBC — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) Volunteer firefighters, councils paying for Starlink connections as poor mobile reception continues across WA
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) How Iran jammed Starlink (and how Iranians are trying to get around it)
France 24 — 4:59 am ET (0959 GMT) France explores sending Eutelsat terminals to Iran amid internet blackout
Reuters — 4:57 am ET (0957 GMT) |
