Shenzhou spacecraft
Shenzhou 5 in the preparation. Shenzhou 5 ( — was the first Human spaceflight mission of the People's Republic of China (PRC launched on October 15, 2003
Description
Role:	Manned spacecraft
Crew:	three
Dimensions
Height:	30. A spacecraft is a Vehicle or machine designed for Spaceflight. 34 ft	9. 25 m
Diameter:	9. 10 ft	2. 8 m
Volume:	494. 4 ft³	14. 00 m³
Rocket engines
Main Engine (N2O4/MMH) :	2248 lbf ea	10000 N
Performance
Endurance:	20 days
Apogee:	201 mi	324 km
Perigee:	121. 8 mi	196 km
Inclination:	42. 5 degrees
Spacecraft delta v:	1,240 ft/s	380 m/s
Modules
Modular design of Shenzhou spacecraft

Shenzhou (Chinese: 神舟; pinyin: Shén Zhōu) is a spacecraft from the People's Republic of China which first carried a Chinese taikonaut into orbit on October 15, 2003. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use A spacecraft is a Vehicle or machine designed for Spaceflight. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.

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 space program of China was initiated soon after the founding of the PRC. The space program of China was initiated soon after the founding of the PRC. The plan called for a manned launch in October 1999, prior to the new millennium.

The first four unmanned test flights happened in 1999, 2001 and 2002. These were followed with another manned launch on October 12, 2005. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. It is launched on the Long March 2F from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The Long March 2F ( Chang Zheng 2F) also known as the CZ-2F, LM-2F and Shenjian On 15 October 2003, a Long March Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center ( JSLC) () is a People's Republic of China Space vehicle launch facility ( Spaceport) in the Gobi desert The command center of the mission is the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center. Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center 北京航天指挥控制中心 (or BACCC is a command center for the Chinese space program which includes the Shenzhou

The name is variously translated as "Divine Craft", "Divine Vessel of the Gods" or similar, and is identically pronounced, though differently written, with a literary name for China (神州; literally "Divine Land"). In China, common names for China include " Zhonghua " (zh-Hans [[wiktionary中华 中华]]/zh-Hant [[wiktionary中華 中華]] and " Zhongguo

In March 2005, an asteroid was named 8256 Shenzhou in honour of the spacecraft. 8256 Shenzhou is an asteroid named after the Chinese Shenzhou spacecraft.

Shenzhou spacecraft

The Shenzhou spacecraft closely resembles Soyuz, although it is substantially larger^[1], and unlike the Soyuz, it features a powered orbital module capable of autonomous flight. Design A Soyuz spacecraft consists of three parts (from front to back A Spheroid Orbital module, which provides accommodation for the crew during

The similarity in outward appearance between Shenzhou and Soyuz arises partially from basic constraints on space flight. ^[2] 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). The orbital module is a portion of spacecraft used only in orbit The reentry capsule is part of the Soviet/Russian Soyuz or Chinese Shenzhou spacecrafts which returns to Earth following a space flight A service module is a Spacecraft compartment containing a variety of support systems used for spacecraft operations but not any habitable area 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. A heat shield is a protective layer on a Spacecraft or Ballistic missile that is designed to protect it from the high Temperature of Atmospheric 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

Orbital module

The orbital module (轨道舱) contains space for experiments, crew-serviced or operated equipment, and in-orbit habitation. The orbital module is a portion of spacecraft used only in orbit Without docking systems, Shenzhou 1~6 carried different kinds of payload on the top of their orbital modules for scientific experiments.

Unlike the Soyuz, the Shenzhou orbital module is also equipped with its own propulsion, and control systems, allowing autonomous flight. It is possible for Shenzhou to leave an orbital module in orbit for redocking by a later spacecraft, something which the Soyuz cannot do since the hatch enabling it to function as an airlock is part of its descent module. In the future it is possible that the orbital module(s) could also be left behind on the planned Chinese project 921/2 space station as additional station modules. Project 921 is the working name given by the People's Republic of China in 1992 for plans to create a manned Space station. A space station is an artificial structure designed for Humans to live in Outer space. The fact that China has yet to deploy a space station (e. g. , something equivalent to Salyut such as a module that has been re-docked with after deployment) implies an equivalent stage of progress to Russia pre-1970. The Salyut program (Салют lit  Salute or Fireworks) was the first Space station program undertaken by the Soviet Union, which consisted ^[2]

In the unmanned test flights launched to date, the orbital module of each Shenzhou was left functioning on orbit for several days after the reentry capsules return, and the Shenzhou 5 orbital module continued to operate for six months after launch. Shenzhou 5 ( — was the first Human spaceflight mission of the People's Republic of China (PRC launched on October 15, 2003 Significantly, the docking adapter in the orbital module appears to be compatible with the APAS-89 adapter used by American and Russian spacecraft. The Androgynous Peripheral Attach System, or Androgynous Peripheral Assembly System, is a spacecraft docking mechanism used on the International Space Station It is therefore technically possible for Shenzhou to dock with the International Space Station.

Orbital module Data

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 m².

Electric System: 0. 50 average kW.

Electric System: 1. 20 kWh.

Re-entry module

The reentry module (返回舱) is located in the middle section of the spacecraft and contains seating for the crew. The reentry capsule is part of the Soviet/Russian Soyuz or Chinese Shenzhou spacecrafts which returns to Earth following a space flight It 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.

Re-entry module 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) - this is ablative and mass can likely be reduced in future as analysis of recovered shields is undertaken.

RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 8 x 150 N.

RCS Propellants: Hydrazine

Service module

The aft service module (推进舱) contains life support and other equipment required for the functioning of Shenzhou. A service module is a Spacecraft compartment containing a variety of support systems used for spacecraft operations but not any habitable area Two pairs of solar panels, one pair on the service module, the other pair on the orbital module, have a total area of over 40 m² (430 ft²), indicating average electrical power over 1. In the field of Photovoltaics, a photovoltaic module is a packaged interconnected assembly of photovoltaic cells also known as Solar cells An installation of 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 m², 36. 72 m² total.

Electric System: 1. 00 average kW.

Electric System: 2. 40 kWh.

Shenzhou "space laboratory module"

An eight ton "space laboratory module" with two docking ports is planned for launch under the designation of Shenzhou 8. Shenzhou 8 ( Chinese: 神舟八号 will be an unmanned flight of the People's Republic of China 's Project 921-2 program It will serve as a target for successive missions, allowing China to experiment space rendezvous capabilities. A space rendezvous between two Spacecraft, often between a spacecraft and a Space station, is an Orbital maneuver where the two arrive at the same

This corresponds to the smaller of the two ongoing Project 921-2 Chinese space station plans. Project 921 is the working name given by the People's Republic of China in 1992 for plans to create a manned Space station.

History

China's first efforts at human spaceflight started in 1968 with a projected launch date of 1973. A human spaceflight is a Spaceflight with a human crew, and possibly passengers Although China did launch an unmanned satellite in 1970 and has maintained an active unmanned program since, this attempt was canceled due to lack of funds and political interest.

The current Chinese human spaceflight program was authorized on April 1, 1992 as Project 921/1, with work beginning on January 1, 1993. Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The initial plan had three phases:

• Phase 1 would involve launch of two 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-ton space station in the 2010-2015 period, with crews being shuttled to it using the eight-ton manned spacecraft.

The chief designers include Qi Faren and Wang Yongzhi. Qi Faren is the chief designer for Chinese spacecraft since the launch of the prototype Shenzhou manned spacecraft in 1999 Wang Yongzhi (王永志 ( November 17 1932 -) born in Changtu County, Liaoning, China, is an aerospace scientist and Academician 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. Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Jiang Zemin ( born 17 August 1926 was the "core of the third generation " of Communist Party of China leaders serving as General Secretary of A series of three additional unmanned flights ensued. The Shenzhou reentry capsules used to date are 13 percent 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, although physical limitations on astronaut size, as experienced with earlier incarnations of Soyuz, will likely apply.

While the Shenzhou orbital module could be used for military reconnaissance there appears to be no military reason for incorporating such as system in a manned mission, as China could use purely unmanned satellites for these purposes. The experience during the 1960s 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. The Manned Orbital Laboratory ( MOL) was part of the United States Air Force 's Manned spaceflight program a successor to the cancelled X-20 Dyna-Soar The Almaz (Алмаз - "Diamond" program was a series of military Space stations (or "Orbital Piloted Station" - OPS launched by the Soviet Union Yet, the nature of space exploration, with different nations trying successively to achieve the same goals (e. g. , the original "space race", current efforts to duplicate GPS and GLONASS with Galileo), implies that China may well be walking down this route as others have before them. Basic concept of GPS operation A GPS receiver calculates its position by carefully timing the signals sent by the constellation of GPS Satellites high above the Earth Galileo is a Global navigation satellite system currently being built by the European Union (EU and European Space Agency (ESA

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. Shenzhou 5 ( — was the first Human spaceflight mission of the People's Republic of China (PRC launched on October 15, 2003 Yáng Lìwěi ( (born June 21, 1965) is a Chinese major general and military pilot and a CNSA Astronaut. China standard time or Beijing time is the Time zone observed in the People's Republic of China ( PRC) Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.

Missions launched

Launch of Shenzhou 5 in 2003

• Shenzhou 1 - November 19, 1999 - unmanned test flight
• Shenzhou 2 - January 9, 2001 - carried animals
• Shenzhou 3 - March 25, 2002 - carried a test dummy
• Shenzhou 4 - December 29, 2002 - carried a test dummy and several science experiments
• Shenzhou 5 - October 15, 2003 - 14 Earth orbits carrying Yáng Lìwěi
• Shenzhou 6 - October 12, 2005 - five day mission with Fèi Jùnlóng and Niè Hǎishèng

Planned missions

• Shenzhou 7 - October 2008 - three man crew; a spacewalk performed by one crew member will be the main objective of the mission
• Shenzhou 8 - 2010 (?) - unmanned mission, it will be an eight ton "space laboratory module" (see Project 921-2) with two docking ports and target for Shenzhou 9 docking
• Shenzhou 9 - 2010 (?)- unmanned mission, will rendezvous and dock with Shenzhou 8
• Shenzhou 10 - 2010 (?)- two or three person crew, will dock with Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9

• Shenzhou 11 (?) - 2012 (?) - unmanned mission, it will be an eight ton "space laboratory module" (see Project 921-2) with two docking ports and target for Shenzhou 12 docking
• Shenzhou 12 (?) - 2012 (?)- unmanned mission, will rendezvous and dock with Shenzhou 11
• Shenzhou 13 (?) - 2012 (?)- two or three person crew, will dock with Shenzhou 11 and Shenzhou 12

• 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. Mission parameters Mass 7600 kg Perigee 195 km Apogee 315 km Inclination 42 Events 1095 - The Council of Clermont, called by Pope Urban II to discuss sending the First Crusade to the Holy Land Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Mission parameters Mass 7400 kg Perigee 330 km Apogee 346 km Inclination 42 Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. See also Shenzhou spacecraft Long March rocket Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Shenzhou 4 ( Chinese: 神舟四号 launched on December 29, 2002, was the fourth unmanned launch of the Chinese Shenzhou Events 1170 - Thomas Becket: Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated inside Canterbury Cathedral by followers of King Henry II See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Shenzhou 5 ( — was the first Human spaceflight mission of the People's Republic of China (PRC launched on October 15, 2003 Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Yáng Lìwěi ( (born June 21, 1965) is a Chinese major general and military pilot and a CNSA Astronaut. Shenzhou 6 ( Shénzhōu lìuhào) was the second Human spaceflight of the People's Republic of China, launched on 12 October 2005 Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Colonel Fèi Jùnlóng ( (born 1965 is a Chinese military pilot and an Astronaut. Colonel Niè Hǎishèng ( (born October 13, 1964) is a Chinese military pilot and CNSA Astronaut ( yuhangyuan) Shenzhou 7 ( was the third Human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program. Shenzhou 8 ( Chinese: 神舟八号 will be an unmanned flight of the People's Republic of China 's Project 921-2 program Project 921 is the working name given by the People's Republic of China in 1992 for plans to create a manned Space station. Shenzhou 9 will be an unmanned flight of the People's Republic of China 's Shenzhou spacecraft. Shenzhou 9 will be an unmanned flight of the People's Republic of China 's Shenzhou spacecraft. Shenzhou 8 ( Chinese: 神舟八号 will be an unmanned flight of the People's Republic of China 's Project 921-2 program Shenzhou 10 will be the fourth Manned spaceflight of the People's Republic of China 's Shenzhou spacecraft. Shenzhou 8 ( Chinese: 神舟八号 will be an unmanned flight of the People's Republic of China 's Project 921-2 program Shenzhou 9 will be an unmanned flight of the People's Republic of China 's Shenzhou spacecraft. Project 921 is the working name given by the People's Republic of China in 1992 for plans to create a manned Space station.

See also

• Long March rocket
• Project 921-2
• Space program of China
• China National Space Administration
• Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics

References

• Shenzhou. Retrieved on 21 July 2005. Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• "China's first astronaut revealed", BBC, March 7, 2003. Events 161 - Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius dies and is succeeded by co-Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.  
• Brief history of Russian aid to Chinese space program. Retrieved on 7 June 2007. Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
• Details on purchase of Soyuz descent capsule by China, Space.com. Retrieved on 7 June 2007. Events 1099 - The First Crusade: The Siege of Jerusalem begins Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.

External links

• Flickr: Photos tagged with shenzhou, photos likely relating to Shenzhou spacecraft

Shenzhou (神舟)
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