ShenZhou 1 Unmanned Experimental Spaceflight Mission

Last updated: 25 May 2007

After over six years of development, and almost a year behind the initial schedule, China was finally close to test launch the spacecraft intended for its manned space programme for the first time in 1999. Preparation for the first launch began in August 1998 at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) under tight security, with no press report allowed. However, in late 1999 an Internet source photo by an anonymous amateur photographer captured the CZ-2F launch vehicle standing at the vertical assembly tower in JSLC, suggesting the first launch was almost imminent.

The first flight mission solely aimed to test the launch and recovery of the spacecraft itself, with no life support system or mission payload carried. An experimental prototype spacecraft was produced and delivered to JSLC in July 1999. Then Chinese president Jiang Zemin personally named the spacecraft as ShenZhou (“Magic Vessel” or “Divine Vessel”). The first zero-altitude launch test of the spacecraft’s emergency escape system was successfully carried out on 19 October. After a final joint launch rehearsal involving all systems and teams, on 15 November the ShenZhou spacecraft mated with the launch vehicle was moved from the vertical assembly tower to the launch pad.

The historical launch came on 20 November 1999 at 06:30 local time (19 November 22:30 GMT), when the launch vehicle carrying the ShenZhou spacecraft lifted off from the launch pad. Chinese official media announced the successful launch of the spacecraft shortly after. The ShenZhou spaceship flew 21 hours 11 minutes (14 orbits) before the YuanWang 3 tracking ship off the coast of Namibia picked up the spacecraft's signal at 18:49 GMT, and commanded retro-fire after three failed attemps.

The re-entry capsule of the spaceship entered the earth atmosphere and flew over the coast of the Arabian peninsula, and then over Pakistan, and entered Chinese territory over Tibet. The drogue chute deployed at an altitude of 30km and the re-entry capsule soft-landed in the scheduled landing spot in Inner Mongolia. The capsule touched down at 03:41 local time on 21 November 1999 (20 November 19:41 GMT).

The flight mission of the ShenZhou spacecraft, also referred to as ShenZhou 1 mission, marked an important milestone in China’s manned space programme known as Project 921. The mission formed the first basis on which subsequent missions were carried out, eventually leading to the first successful manned mission in 2003.

Mission Summary

See Also

• China National Manned Space Programme - Project 921
• ShenZhou spacecraft