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ShenZhou 8 Spaceflight Mission
Mission Details
- Official Name: ?
- Mission Crew: None
- Launch Vehicle: CZ-2F/G
- Launch Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre
Summary
Within few months after the launch of the TianGong 1 target spacecraft, the PRC will launch the ShenZhou 8 spacecraft to perform the first rendezvous docking operation, possibly in early 2011. The ShenZhou 8 will be an unmanned mission, performing the docking operation under the ground control. The purpose of the mission is to test the rendezvous docking technique to get ready for future rendezvous docking operations with astronauts onboard the spacecraft.
The ShenZhou 8 will be based on the standard ShenZhou design, possibly without the life support system. The spacecraft will be carrying a Russian-style androgynous docking module at the forward end, in the place of the orbital module found in the standard ShenZhou configuration. The spacecraft will be launched by a modified CZ-2F/G launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
According to the Chinese official media reports in November 2005, the first ground test of the spacecraft docking and buffering was successfully carried out by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). SAST is responsible for the development of the docking system for the ShenZhou spacecraft.
In the News
Last update: 1 March 2009 |
