Shenzhou spacecraft

Shenzhou (zh-cp |c=神舟 |p=Shén Zhōu) is a spacecraft developed by the People's Republic of China to support its manned spaceflight program. Its design is based on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, and is much bigger. Like most Chinese military equipments this spacecraft relied heavily on Russian technology.The first manned launch was on October 15, 2003.

History

Development began in 1992, under the name of Project 921-1. The Chinese National Manned Space Program was given the designation Project 921 with Project 921-1 as its first significant goal. The plan called for a manned launch in October 1999, prior to the new millennium.

It is launched on the Long March 2F from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The command center for missions is the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center.

The first four unmanned test flights happened in 1999, 2001 and 2002. These were followed by manned launches on October 15, 2003, October 12, 2005 and September 25, 2008.

The name is variously translated as "Divine Craft", "Divine Vessel of the Gods" or similar, and is identically pronounced, though differently written, with a literary name for China (神州; literally "Divine Land").

In March 2005, an asteroid was named 8256 Shenzhou in honour of the spacecraft.

henzhou spacecraft

The "Shenzhou" spacecraft closely resembles "Soyuz", although it is substantially larger, [ [http://www.braeunig.us/space/specs/shenzhou.htm Spacecraft - Shenzhou ] ] and unlike the Soyuz, it features a powered orbital module capable of autonomous flight.

The similarity in outward appearance between "Shenzhou" and "Soyuz" arises partially from basic constraints on space flight.cite web | url=http://www.russianspaceweb.com/spacecraft_manned_salyut.html|title=Russian capabilities circa 1970 - as a comparison to current Chinese space capabilities|accessdate=30 June|accessyear=2007 ] Like "Soyuz", "Shenzhou" consists of three modules: a forward orbital module (轨道舱), a reentry capsule (返回舱) in the middle, and an aft service module (推进舱). This division is based on the principle of minimizing the amount of material to be returned to Earth. Anything placed in the orbital or service modules does not require heat shielding, and this greatly increases the space available in the spacecraft without increasing weight as much as it would if those modules were also able to withstand reentry. Thus both "Soyuz" and "Shenzhou" have more living area with less weight than the "Apollo" CSM.

Complete Spacecraft Data :Total Mass: 7,840 kg:Length: 9.25 m:Diameter: 2.80 m:Span: 17.00 m

Orbital module

The orbital module (轨道舱) contains space for experiments, crew-serviced or operated equipment, and in-orbit habitation. Without docking systems, Shenzhou 1~6 carried different kinds of payload on the top of their orbital modules for scientific experiments.

Unlike the Soyuz, the Shenzhou orbital module is also equipped with its own propulsion, and control systems, allowing autonomous flight. It is possible for Shenzhou to leave an orbital module in orbit for redocking by a later spacecraft, something which the Soyuz cannot do since the hatch enabling it to function as an airlock is part of its descent module. In the future it is possible that the orbital module(s) could also be left behind on the planned Chinese project 921/2 space station as additional station modules. The fact that China has yet to deploy a space station (e.g., something equivalent to "Salyut" such as a module that has been re-docked with after deployment) implies an equivalent stage of progress to Russia pre-1970.

In the unmanned test flights launched to date, the orbital module of each "Shenzhou" was left functioning on orbit for several days after the reentry capsules return, and the "Shenzhou 5" orbital module continued to operate for six months after launch.

Orbital module Data:Design Life: 200 days. :Length: 2.80 m (9.10 ft). :Basic Diameter: 2.25 m (7.38 ft). :Maximum Diameter: 2.25 m (7.38 ft). :Span: 10.40 m (34.10 ft). :Habitable Volume: 8.00 m³. :Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). :RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 16 x 5 N. :RCS Propellants: Hydrazine. :Electrical System: Solar panels, 12.24 m². :Electric System: 0.50 average kW. :Electric System: 1.20 kWh.

Re-entry module

The reentry module (返回舱) is located in the middle section of the spacecraft and contains seating for the crew. It is the only portion of "Shenzhou" which returns to Earth's surface. Its shape is a compromise between maximizing living space while allowing for some aerodynamic control upon reentry.

Re-entry module Data:Crew Size: 3. :Design Life: 20 days. :Length: 2.50 m (8.20 ft). :Basic Diameter: 2.52 m (8.26 ft). :Maximum Diameter: 2.52 m (8.26 ft). :Habitable Volume: 6.00 m³. :Mass: 3,240 kg (7,140 lb). :Heat Shield Mass: 450 kg (990 lb):RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 8 x 150 N. :RCS Propellants: Hydrazine

ervice module

The aft service module (推进舱) contains life support and other equipment required for the functioning of "Shenzhou". Two pairs of solar panels, one pair on the service module, the other pair on the orbital module, have a total area of over 40 m² (430 ft²), indicating average electrical power over 1.5 kW ("Soyuz" have 1.0 kW).

Service module Data :Design Life: 20 days. :Length: 2.94 m (9.65 ft). :Basic Diameter: 2.50 m (8.20 ft). :Maximum Diameter: 2.80 m (9.10 ft). :Span: 17.00 m (55.00 ft). :Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). :RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 8 x 150 N. :RCS Fine No x Thrust: 16 x 5 N. :RCS Propellants: N2O4/MMH, unified system with main engine. :Main Engine: 4 x 2500 N. :Main Engine Thrust: 10.000 kN (2,248 lbf). :Main Engine Propellants: N2O4/MMH. :Main Engine Propellants: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). :Main Engine Isp: 290 sec. L/D Hypersonic: 0.30. :Electrical System: Solar panels, 24.48 + 12.24 m², 36.72 m² total. :Electric System: 1.00 average kW. :Electric System: 2.40 kWh.

Shenzhou "space laboratory module"

It has been stated by some sources [cite web|url=http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/25892/6948873.html|title=神七挑战前所未有 “神八”飞船开始研制
publisher= in turn.
According to China Daily (2008-09-29) Zhang Bainan, chief designer of the spacecraft system of China's manned space program, has declared that Shenzhou VIII will be a final, improved version of earlier Shenzhou spacecraft.

History

China's first efforts at human spaceflight started in 1968 with a projected launch date of 1973. Although China did launch an unmanned satellite in 1970 and has maintained an active unmanned program since, this attempt was canceled due to lack of funds and political interest.

The current Chinese human spaceflight program was authorized on April 1 1992 as Project 921/1, with work beginning on January 1 1993. The initial plan had three phases::*Phase 1 would involve launch of two unmanned versions of the manned spacecraft, followed by the first Chinese manned spaceflight, by 2002.:*Phase 2 would run through 2007, and involve a series of flights to prove the technology, conduct rendezvous and docking operations in orbit, and operate an 8-tonne spacelab using the basic spacecraft technology.:*Phase 3 would involve orbiting of a 20-ton space station in the 2010-2015 period, with crews being shuttled to it using the eight-ton manned spacecraft.

The chief designers include Qi Faren and Wang Yongzhi. The first unmanned flight of the spacecraft was launched on November 19 1999 after which Project 921/1 was renamed Shenzhou, a name reportedly chosen by Jiang Zemin. A series of three additional unmanned flights ensued. The Shenzhou reentry capsules used to date are 13 percent larger than Soyuz reentry capsules, and it is expected that later craft will be designed to carry a crew of four instead of Soyuz's three, although physical limitations on astronaut size, as experienced with earlier incarnations of Soyuz, will likely apply.

While the Shenzhou orbital module could be used for military reconnaissance there appears to be no military reason for incorporating such as system in a manned mission, as China could use purely unmanned satellites for these purposes. The experience during the 1960s of both the United States with the Manned Orbiting Laboratory and the Soviet Union with the Almaz space station suggests that the military usefulness of human spaceflight is quite limited and that practically all military uses of space are much more effectively performed by unmanned satellites. Yet, the nature of space exploration, with different nations trying successively to achieve the same goals (e.g., the original "space race", current efforts to duplicate GPS and GLONASS with Galileo), implies that China may well be walking down this route as others have before them.

The fifth launch, "Shenzhou 5", was the first to carry a human (Yáng Lìwěi) and occurred at 9:00 CST (UTC +8) on October 15, 2003.

Missions launched

*"Shenzhou 1" - November 19 1999 - unmanned test flight
*"Shenzhou 2" - January 9 2001 - carried animals
*"Shenzhou 3" - March 25 2002 - carried a test dummy
*"Shenzhou 4" - December 29 2002 - carried a test dummy and several science experiments
*"Shenzhou 5" - October 15 2003 - 14 Earth orbits carrying Yang Liwei
*"Shenzhou 6" - October 12 2005 - five day mission with Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng
*"Shenzhou 7" - September 25, 2008 - three man crew; a spacewalk performed by one crew member

Planned missions

*"Shenzhou 8" - 2010 (?) - unmanned mission, will rendezvous and dock with Tiangong 1.
*"Shenzhou 9" - 2010 (?)- unmanned mission, will dock with Tiangong 1 after Shenzhou 8.
*"Shenzhou 10" - 2010 (?)- three person crew, will dock with Tiangong 1 after Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9 to form a space staion or space laboratory.

*"Shenzhou 11" - 2012 (?) - manned mission carrying the second space laboratory crew to the Shenzhou 8-Shenzhou 10 orbital complex. [cite web|url=http://news.ifeng.com/mil/2/200806/0626_340_617870_3.shtml|title=神八2010年首飞 运载火箭将有重大变化(组图)| publisher= 凤凰资讯|date=June 26, 2008|accessdate=July 8|accessyear=2008]

*"Shenzhou circumlunar" (?) - 2015 (?)

This is similar to the process used by the Soviet Union in their early Soyuz program which was intended to test procedures for future Lunar flights.

See also

*Long March rocket
*Project 921-2
*Tiangong
*Space program of China
*China National Space Administration
*Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

References

*cite web | url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/shenzhou.htm|title=Shenzhou|accessdate=21 July|accessyear=2005
*cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2829349.stm|title=China's first astronaut revealed|publisher=BBC|date=March 7, 2003
*cite web | url=http://www.cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/031006.htm|title=Brief history of Russian aid to Chinese space program|accessdate=7 June|accessyear=2007
*cite web | url=http://www.space.com/news/china_russia_991122.html|title=Details on purchase of Soyuz descent capsule by China, Space.com|accessdate=7 June|accessyear=2007

External links

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/shenzhou Flickr: Photos tagged with shenzhou] , photos likely relating to Shenzhou spacecraft
* [http://bbs.chinaa2z.com/viewthread.php?tid=313 Mission highlights of Shenzhou 7]
* [http://bbs.chinaa2z.com/viewthread.php?tid=314 Subsystems and Project managment of Shenzhou 7]