ShenZhou 6 Manned Spaceflight Mission

	See Also Project 921

Last updated: 22 May 2007

ShenZhou 6 was the second manned spaceflight mission conducted by China, during which two astronauts commander FEI Junlong and flight engineer NIE Haisheng spent five days in Low Earth orbit (LEO). For the first time the astronauts were able to take off their heavy spacesuit and enter the orbital module to conduct scientific experiments. ShenZhou 6 was also the first mission for the second phase of the Chinese national manned space programme Project 921. The launch of the spacecraft on 12 October 2005 was broadcasted to the whole nation on live television.

Two years after its first manned spaceflight mission ShenZhou 5, China was ready for the second flight mission in 2005. Although the Chinese media had been speculating about the exact launch date several months before the launch, the final launch date was not confirmed until late September.

Compared to the previous ShenZhou 5 mission, the ShenZhou 6 spacecraft featured an improved life support system that could support two astronauts to live in space for up to seven days. The spacecraft was equipped with a number of new facilities, including a food heater, dishware and an “excrement collecting facility” – or space toilet – that are being used for the first time. Sleeping bags and a new data recorder – a spacecraft black box – were also being tested. The black box is faster than its ShenZhou 5 counterpart and contains more storage space, but at only half the size.

Mission Brief

12 October 2005

06:15 (11 October 22:15 GMT) – The two astronauts entered the re-entry capsule of the spacecraft

06:53 (11 October 22:15 GMT) – The hatch of the spacecraft was closed.

08:27 (00:27 GMT) – The support arms on the launch pad fully opened ready for launch.

09:00 (01:00 GMT) – The CZ-2F launch vehicle ignited.

09:00:03.583 (01:00:03.583 GMT) – The launch vehicle lifted off.

09:02:03 (01:02:03 GMT) – At T+120s, the escape tower jettisoned.

09:02:19 (01:02:19 GMT) – At T+136s, the four strap-on solid-propellant boosters jettisoned.

09:02:42 (01:02:42 GMT) – At T+159s, the first-stage was separated from the launch vehicle.

09:03:23 (01:03:23 GMT) – At T+200s, the payload fairing jettisoned at the altitude of 110km.

09:09:43 (01:09:43 GMT) – At T+583s, the spacecraft was separated from the launch vehicle at the altitude of 200km.

09:09:52 (01:09:52 GMT) – The spacecraft entered its initial orbit.

09:39 (01:39 GMT) – The Chief Commander of the Chinese manned spaceflight programme, Chen Bingde, announced that the launch was successful.

11:11 (03:11 GMT) – The crew had their first meal in space.

15:54:45 (07:54:45 GMT) – The ShenZhou 6 spacecraft made its first orbit changing manoeuvre, with a 63 second burn to circularise the orbit. About 30 minutes later, the between the re-entry and orbital modules was opened. For the first time, the crew was able to enter the orbital module, the living compartment of the ShenZhou spacecraft.

21:32 (13:32 GMT) – The two astronauts had several minutes conversation with their wives and children in Mission Control in Beijing.

14 October

05:56 (13 October 21:56 GMT) – A second orbital manoeuvre occurred and lasted 6.5 seconds.

15 October

16:29~16:31 (08:29~08:31 GMT) – The crew had a two-minute conversation with Presiden HU Jintao.

17 October

02:40 (16 October 18:40 GMT) – ShenZhou 6 entered the 76th circling and was within the control zone of Qingdao Telemetry and Tracking Station.

02:44 (16 October 18:44 GMT) – The re-entry command was unlocked.

03:10 (16 October 19:10 GMT) – The Ground Control in Beijing announced the re-entry tracking was in the final 30 minutes preparation.

03:17 (16 October 19:17 GMT) – ShenZhou 6 was over the South Pacific.

03:18 (16 October 19:18 GMT) – The solar panel of the spacecraft was returned to the vertical position.

03:42 (16 October 19:42 GMT) – Yuanwang 3 space tracking ship captured the ShenZhou 6 on its radar.

03:43 (16 October 19:43 GMT) – Yuanwang 3 sent the command to ShenZhou 6 to change its flight status.

03:44 (16 October 19:44 GMT) – The re-entry capsule and service modules were separated from the forward orbital module and solar panels.

03:45 (16 October 19:45 GMT) – The retrofire engines on the service module ignited over the coast of West Africa to slow down the spacecraft.

03:48:29 (16 October 19:48:29 GMT) – The retrofire engines were shut down and the spacecraft left the control zone of Yuanwang 3.

03:52 (16 October 19:52 GMT) – The spacecraft flew over Africa.

04:02 (16 October 20:02 GMT) – The spacecraft flew over South Asia and the crew reported to the Ground Control that the spacecraft was working normal.

04:07 (16 October 20:07 GMT) – The service module and the re-entry capsule were separated.

04:13 (16 October 20:13 GMT) – The communications blackout that occured as the re-entry capsule entered the top of the atmosphere, over China.

04:16 (16 October 20:16 GMT) – The tracking devices in the landing site captured the re-entry capsule.

04:20 (16 October 20:20 GMT) – The re-entry capsule deployed the main parachute. The crew of a helicopter for the recovery mission had the capsule in sight.

04:23 (16 October 20:23 GMT) – The heat shield of the re-entry capsule was separated.

04:33 (16 October 20:33 GMT) – The re-entry capsule touched down approximately 1km away from its planned target.

05:04 (16 October 21:04 GMT) – The hatch on the re-entry capsule was opened.

05:39 (16 October 21:39 GMT) – The two astronauts climbed out of the capsule under the assistance of the recovery crew.

Mission Summary

Gallery

See Also

• China National Manned Space Programme - Project 921
• Astronauts (HangTianYuan)
• ShenZhou spacecraft