Shenzhou spacecraft
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| Shenzhou spacecraft | ||
|---|---|---|
 1:40 scale model of Shenzhou 1 |
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| Description | ||
| Role: | Manned spacecraft | |
| Crew: | three | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Height: | 30.34 ft | 9.25 m |
| Diameter: | 9.10 ft | 2.8 m |
| Volume: | 14.00 m3 | |
| Rocket engines | ||
| Main Engine (N2O4/MMH) : | 2248 lbf ea | 10000 N |
| Performance | ||
| Endurance: | 20 days | |
| Apogee: | 324 km | |
| Perigee: | 196 km | |
| Inclination: | 42.5 degrees | |
| Spacecraft delta v: | 1,240 ft/s | 380 m/s |
 Modular design of Shenzhou spacecraft |
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| Shenzhou spacecraft | ||
Shenzhou (Chinese: 神舟; pinyin: Shén Zhōu) is a spacecraft from the People's Republic of China which first carried a Chinese astronaut into orbit on October 15, 2003.
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.
The first four unmanned test flights in 1999, 2001 and 2002. These were followed with another manned launch on October 12, 2005. It is launched on the Long March 2F from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The command center of the mission is the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center.
The name is variously translated as "Divine Craft", "Divine Vessel" or similar, but is also a pun on a literary name for China with the same pronunciation (神州; literally "Divine Land")
In March 2005, an asteroid was named 8256 Shenzhou in honor of the spacecraft.
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[edit] Design
The Shenzhou spacecraft closely resembles Soyuz, although it is substantially larger and features a powered orbital module capable of autonomous flight.Shenzhou is similar to Soyuz for technical reasons — the Soyuz design maximizes volume for a given weight. However, while the design is similar, Shenzhou contains no hardware licensed or directly copied from Soyuz.[citation needed]
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-kg 7,840
- Length-m 9.25
- Diameter-m 2.80
- Span-m 17.00
[edit] Orbital module
The orbital module (轨道舱) contains space for experiments, crew-serviced or operated equipment, and in-orbit habitation. The reentry vehicle contains seating for the crew, and 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.
The orbital module is also equipped with its own propulsion, and control systems, allowing autonomous flight. In the future the orbital modules could also be left behind on the planned Chinese project 921/2 space station as additional station modules. In the unmanned test flights launched to date, the orbital module of each Shenzhou was left functioning in orbit for several days after the reentry capsule's return, and the Shenzhou 5 orbital module continued to operate for six months after launch. Significantly, the docking adapter in the orbital module is based on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project adapter and is compatible with both Soviet and American docking adapters. It is therefore technically possible for Shenzhou to dock with the International Space Station.
- 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 sq m.
- Electric System: 0.50 average kW.
- Electric System: 1.20 kWh.
[edit] Reentry capsule
A reentry capsule (返回舱) is located in the middle section.
Reentry capsule 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
[edit] Service 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 40m2 (430ft2), 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 sq m, 36.72 sq m total.
- Electric System: 1.00 average kW.
- Electric System: 2.40 kWh.
[edit] 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 cancelled due to lack of funds and political interest.
The current Chinese human spaceflight programme 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 2 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-tonne space station in the 2010-2015 period, with crews being shuttled to it using the 8-tonne 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% 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.
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.
Like similar space programs in other nations, Shenzhou has been somewhat controversial with some in China questioning whether China should spend money on launching people into space, arguing that these resources would be better directed elsewhere. Indeed, two earlier human spaceflight programs, one in the mid-1970s and the other in the 1980s were cancelled because of expense.
In response, a number of justifications have been offered in the Chinese media. One is that the long term destiny of humanity lies in the exploration of space, and that China should not be left behind. Another is that such a program will catalyze the development of science and technology in China. Finally, it has been argued that the prestige resulting from this capability will increase China's stature in the world. On October 17, 2005, following the success of Shenzhou 6, Chinese media officially stated that the cost of this flight was around $110 million USD, and the gross cost of Project 921/1 in the past 11 years was $2.3 billion USD, radically lower than the cost of similar space programs in other nations.
The Chinese media has heavily promoted the experiments undertaken by Shenzhou, particularly exposing seeds, including some from Taiwan, to zero gravity and radiation. Most scientists, however, discount the usefulness of this type of experiment.
Some Western news media outlets have suggested that there are important military implications for China's ability to put astronauts into space, specifically in the area of reconnaissance and anti-satellite weaponry. However, the Chinese media has downplayed possible military motivations although Shenzhou's orbital module, staying in orbit for a few months before falling back to earth and disintegrating, is equipped with a high-resolution observation camera, which could be used for military intelligence.
However the experience during the 1960's 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. Thus while the Shenzhou orbital module could be used for military reconnaissance, there is no military reason for incorporating such as system in a manned mission, as China could use purely unmanned satellites for these purposes.
[edit] Missions launched
- Shenzhou 1 - November 19, 1999 - unmanned test flight
- Shenzhou 2 - January 9, 2001 - carrying live test animals
- Shenzhou 3 - March 25, 2002 - carrying a test dummy
- Shenzhou 4 - December 29, 2002 - carried a test dummy, performed several science experiments
- Shenzhou 5 - October 15, 2003 - 14 Earth orbits carrying Yáng Lìwěi
- Shenzhou 6 - October 12, 2005, 5 day mission with Fèi Jùnlóng and Niè Hǎishèng
[edit] Planned missions
- Shenzhou 7 - September 2008 - three man crew; a spacewalk performed by one crew member will be the main objective of the mission
- Shenzhou 8 - 2010 (?) - unmanned mission, will be left in space for docking with Shenzhou 9
- Shenzhou 9 - 2010 (?)- unmanned mission, will rendezvous and dock with the orbital module of Shenzhou 8 by 2010
- Shenzhou 10 - 2010 (?)- two or three person crew, will dock with Shenzhou 8 and 9
- 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.
[edit] Taikonauts
There were two taikonaut trainers selected for Project 921. They trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Russia.
- Li Qinglong - born August 1962 in Dingyuan, Anhui Province and PLAAF interceptor pilot and space instructor at Star City; selected November 19, 1996
- Wu Jie
Only a few taikonauts have been in space:
- Fei Junlong - Chinese taikonaut (yuhangyuan) detachment January 1998
- Nie Haisheng - first Chinese taikonaut (yuhangyuan) detachment and back up in Shenzhou 5
- Yang Liwei - first Chinese taikonaut (yuhangyuan) detachment
The following people trained as taikonauts await their turn:
- Zhai Zhigang - first Chinese taikonaut (yuhangyuan) detachment and back up in Shenzhou 5
- Chen Quan - selected in January 1998
- Deng Qingming - from Jiangxi Province and PLAAF pilot; selected in January 1998
- Jing Haipeng - born October 1966 and PLAAF pilot; selected in January 1998
- Liu Buoming - born September 1966 and PLAAF pilot; selected in January 1998
- Liu Wang - born in Shanxi Province and PLAFF pilot; selected in January 1998
- Pan Zhanchun - PLAAF pilot; selected in January 1998
- Zhang Xiaoguan - born in Liaoning Province and PLAAF pilot; selected in January 1998
- Zhao Chuandong - PLAAF pilot; selected in January 1998
As for 2006, at least two other selections of younger taikonauts are being trained.
[edit] See also
- Long March rocket
- Space program of China
- China National Space Administration
- Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Flickr: Photos tagged with shenzhou, photos likely relating to Shenzhou spacecraft
| Shenzhou (神舟) |  |
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| Previous mission: Shenzhou 6 | Next mission: Shenzhou 7 | |
| Unmanned: Shenzhou 1 | Shenzhou 2 | Shenzhou 3 | Shenzhou 4 | ||
| Manned: Shenzhou 5 | Shenzhou 6 | ||
| Planned: Shenzhou 7 | Shenzhou 8 |Shenzhou 9 |Shenzhou 10 | ||
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|---|---|---|
| Active | Shenzhou - Chinese Space Station - Space laboratory - Circumlunar Shenzhou - Chinese Lunar Exploration Program - Chinese Earth Observation Program |  |
| In Development | Shenzhou Cargo - Chinese Mars exploration program - Deep space exploration | |
| Cancelled | Chinese Space Shuttle | |
