China launched an unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8 for first space docking successfully

China launched an unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8 for first space docking successfully

Tuesday –

Commander-in-chief of China’s manned space programme Chang
Wanquan announced that in the early hours of Tuesday China successfully launched an unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8 for first space docking successfully from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest Gobi desert.



Wu Ping, spokesperson for China’s manned space programme, said that
Chinese and German scientists will conduct 17 life science space experiments on the Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou-8.

On September 29 china launched Tiangong-1, or the “Heavenly Palace” that was put into space successfully

Now spacecraft Shenzhou-8 is moving towards Tiangong-1, or the “Heavenly Palace
for rendezvous and in next 2 days it will happen.
The docking of the Shenzhou-8 will take place at a height of 343 km above the Earth’s surface. It will return to the Earth after two docking tryouts.

If it becomes successful it will open the way for china to operate a permanent space station around 2020.

Currently only USA and Russia got this capacity and now China may become third country who will enjoy such power.

The experimental docking is part of China's preparation for building its first space station by 2020, where astronauts can live for several months, as they do on NASA's International Space Station or the former Russian Mir.

If it is a success, China will launch another two space craft next year to conduct more docking experiments.

At least one will be manned, and two female astronauts are among those being trained for the mission, Xinhua said. If they are chosen, they will be the first women China has sent into space.


Watch the video China Launch of Shenzhou-8



Updated on Friday, November 04, 2011

Wu Ping, spokeswoman for China's manned space program said that
The Shenzhou 8 craft that was launched Tuesday docked with the already orbiting Tiangong 1 module.
The assembly already has orbited Earth six times with onboard instruments working normally

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that Premier Wen Jiabao and other top officials watched the docking from an aerospace center in Beijing.

China launched its first manned flight in 2003, joining Russia and the United States as the only countries to launch humans into orbit.


Reality views by sm -

Tuesday, November 01, 2011

Tags - Tiangong-1 “Heavenly Palace Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, unmanned spacecraft, space launch, China space programme

Suggested Reading –

China launched Rocket Carrying - first space laboratory, Tiangong-1 Space Station

http://realityviews.blogspot.com/2011/09/china-launched-rocket-carrying-first.html

Understanding Space Station or Orbital Station Short History of Space Station

http://realityviews.blogspot.com/2011/09/understanding-space-station-or-orbital.html