|
ShenZhou 5 Human Spaceflight Mission
Mission Details
- Official Name: ShenZhou 5
- Mission Crew: YANG Liwei
- Launch Vehicle: CZ-2F
- Launch Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre
- Launch Time: 15 Oct 2003 09:00:03 Beijing Time (01:00:03 GMT)
- Landing Location: Siziwang Banner Landing Site, 4.8km away from the targeted point
- Landing Time: 16 Oct 2003 06:23:00 Beijing Time (15 Oct 22:23:00 GMT)
- Duration: 21 hours, 23 minutes
- No. of Orbits: 14
Summary
ShenZhou 5 launched on 15 October 2003 was China’s first manned spaceflight mission, following four unmanned experimental missions between 1999 and 2002. ShenZhou 5 spaceship carried astronaut YANG Liwei, the 38-year-old Lieutenant Colonel in the PLA Air Force and a former jet fighter pilot, into earth orbit and made China the third country in the world after Russia and the United States to be able to send a human into space independently. The spaceship's re-entry capsule landed safely 21 hours after the launch at the landing site in Inner Mongolia.
The first manned flight mission solely aimed at the safe launch and return of the spaceship and her crew, with no other mission added to the flight schedule. As a result, the flight plan was highly conservative. The spaceship, which was designed to accommodate up to three astronauts, had only one crew. During the whole flight Yang stayed in the re-entry capsule and did not enter the orbital module.
During the 21-hour flight, Yang had two rest sections, each with three hours of short sleep, and a meal of Chinese space food. He also made frequent audio and video communications with the ground control. Images and sound of Yang Liwei talking to the Chinese Defence Minister and Yang's wife and son were broadcasted on the national TV.
Chronology
14 October 2003
17:29 (09:00 GMT) – The flight crew of China’s first manned spaceflight mission, Yang Liwei and his two backups, were introduced to the press.
15 October
05:28 (14 October 21:28 GMT) – A departure ceremony was held at the astronaut house, during which President HU Jintao made a short speech.
05:30 (14 October 21:30 GMT) – A motor convoy carrying Yang left the astronaut house to the launch pad.
09:00 (01:00 GMT) – The CZ-2F launch vehicle carrying the ShenZhou 5 spacecraft lifted off from the launch pad in the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
09:10 (01:10 GMT) – The launch vehicle was separated from the spacecraft, and ShenZhou 5 spacecraft entered the initial orbit.
09:34 (01:34 GMT) – Yang reported to the ground control that he was feeling OK.
09:42 (01:42 GMT) – The director of the Chinese manned space programme, General LI Jinai announced that the launch was successful. Preside Hu made a speech.
10:31 (02:31 GMT) – Yang took off his gloves and safety belt.
11:08 (03:08 GMT) – Yang had his first meal in space.
11:12 (03:12 GMT) – Yang began to a short sleep.
13:39 (05:39 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the fourth circling.
15:28 (07:28 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the fifth circling.
15:57 (07:57 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 spacecraft made its first orbit-raising manoeuvre.
16:50 (08:50 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the sixth circling.
17:05 (09:05 GMT) – Images of the orbit view from ShenZhou 5’s window captured by Yang was transmitted to the mission control in Beijing.
17:30 (09:30 GMT) – Yang had several minutes conversation with the Chinese Defence Minister CAO Gangchuan in mission control.
18:24 (10:24 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the seventh circling.
19:57 (11:57 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the eighth circling.
20:00 (12:00 GMT) – Yang had a conversation with his wife and son.
21:31 (13:31 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the ninth circling.
23:08 (15:08 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the tenth circling.
16 October
00:18 (15 October 16:18 GMT) – Yang had his second short sleep.
01:17 (15 October 17:17 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the twelfth circling. Ground telemetry and tracking stations reported to mission control that the spacecraft was operating normal.
02:52 (15 October 18:52 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the thirteenth circling. Yang reported to mission control that he was feeling OK.
04:19 (15 October 20:19 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 entered the fourth, which was also the last circling.
04:34 (15 October 20:34 GMT) – Yang began to prepare for the re-entry procedure.
05:04 (15 October 21:04 GMT) – ShenZhou 5 was flying over the South Pacific. Yuanwang 3 space tracking ship captured the spacecraft on its radar screen and sent the command to adjust the spacecraft’s status and speed.
05:35 (15 October 21:35 GMT) – Mission control at Beijing Spaceflight Command and Control Centre sent the re-entry command to ShenZhou 5.
05:36 (15 October 21:36 GMT) – The re-entry capsule and service modules were separated from the forward orbital module and solar panels.
05:38 (15 October 21:38 GMT) – The retrofire engines on the service module ignited to slow the spacecraft.
05:58 (15 October 21:58 GMT) – The service module and the re-entry capsule were separated, with the capsule entering the re-entry orbit.
06:02 (15 October 22:02 GMT) – The mobile tracking station in Xinjiang reported that ShenZhou 5 had entered Chinese territory.
06:04 (15 October 22:04 GMT) – Communications blackout occurred as the re-entry capsule entered the top of the atmosphere.
06:07 (15 October 22:07 GMT) – The search helicopters for the recovery mission picked up the signal sent by the spaceship to help locate its position, and helicopter crew reported to have sighted the re-entry capsule. A rescue team comprising 5 helicopters and 14 ground vehicles left to the landing location.
06:18 (15 October 22:18 GMT) – The spacecraft deployed its main parachute; Yang reported to mission control that he was feeling OK.
06:23 (15 October 22:23 GMT) – The re-entry capsule touched down on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, just 4.8km away from its targeted landing spot.
06:28 (15 October 22:28 GMT) – The rescue team was 7.5km away from the capsule’s landing position.
06:31 (15 October 22:31 GMT) – Chinese Premier WEN Jiabao spoke to Yang over the radio and congratulated his safe return.
06:33 (15 October 22:33 GMT) – The rescue helicopter spotted the re-entry capsule and landed nearby to prepare for the recovery mission.
06:36 (15 October 22:36 GMT) – The rescue crew located the re-entry capsule.
06:38 (15 October 22:38 GMT) – The rescue crew reported opened the hatch of the re-entry capsule and reported that Yang was in good condition.
06:51 (15 October 22:51 GMT) – Yang walked out the re-entry capsule.
06:54 (15 October 22:54 GMT) – The manned space programme director Li Jinai announced that the mission was successful.
07:40 (15 October 23:40 GMT) – After an initial medical assessment, Yang was flown to a nearby airport by a helicopter. An air force passenger jet waiting there then flew the astronaut, who had become a national hero, to Beijing.
Last update: 22 May 2007 |
