Shenzhou 7

Shenzhou 7 (simplified Chinese: 神舟七号; traditional Chinese: 神舟七號; pinyin: Shénzhōu Qī Hào) was the third human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program. The mission, which included the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity (EVA) carried out by crew members Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming, marked the commencement of the second phase of the Chinese government's Project 921.

Shenzhou 7
Diagram of the Shenzhou capsule-stack, without deployed orbit module solar cells
COSPAR ID2008-047A
SATCAT no.33386
Mission duration3 days
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeShenzhou
Crew
Crew size3
MembersZhai Zhigang
Liu Boming
Jing Haipeng
EVAs1
EVA duration22 minutes
Start of mission
Launch date25 September 2008, 13:10:04.988 (2008-09-25UTC13:10:04Z) UTC[1]
RocketLong March 2F
Launch siteJiuquan LA-4/SLS-1
End of mission
Landing date28 September 2008, 09:37 (2008-09-28UTC09:38Z) UTC[2]
Landing siteSiziwang Banner
Central Inner Mongolia
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth
Shenzhou missions
 

The Shenzhou spacecraft carrying the three crew members was launched 25 September 2008, by a Long March 2F (CZ-2F) rocket which lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 21:10 CST.[1][3] The mission lasted three days, after which the craft landed safely in Siziwang Banner in central Inner Mongolia on 28 September 2008, at 17:37 CST.[2][4] The Shenzhou 7 EVA made the Chinese space program the third to have conducted an EVA. EVAs had previously been conducted by the space programs of the Soviet Union (later Russia) and the United States.

Crew

The crew for Shenzhou 7 was announced on 17 September 2008.[5]

Position Crew Member
Commander Zhai Zhigang (翟志刚)
First spaceflight
Orbital module astronaut[6] Liu Boming (刘伯明)
First spaceflight
Descent module monitor astronaut[6] Jing Haipeng (景海鹏)
First spaceflight

Backup crew
Position Crew Member
Commander Chen Quan (陈全)
Orbital module astronaut[6] Fei Junlong (费俊龙)
Descent module monitor astronaut[6] Nie Haisheng (聂海胜)

Of the back-up crew, only Chen Quan had not previously flown in space.

Mission highlights

The Long March 2F rocket launched the Shenzhou 7 into an initial elliptical orbit of 200 x 330 kilometres inclined at 42.4 degrees on 25 September 2008. About seven hours later the spacecraft raised its orbit to a more circular orbit of 330 x 336 km.[1] After three days in space, deorbit manoeuvres began on 28 September at 08:48, and the return module landed at 09:37 UTC at coordinates 42.278°N 111.355°E / 42.278; 111.355.[7]

China has been congratulated by a number of foreign leaders for the successful completion of the mission,[8] which marked a number of developments for China's space program, including several first-time achievements.

The Shenzhou 7 Mission won the 2009 Space Achievement Award[9] from the Space Foundation.

China's first three-person mission

Shenzhou 7 was the first Chinese space mission to carry a three-person crew for several days and conduct a full operation. A total of six astronauts were trained, three to conduct the mission and three others to serve as a backup crew.

China's first spacewalk
Space capsule of Shenzhou VII at 'homecoming' exhibition in Hong Kong

On 27 September, Zhai Zhigang, wearing a Chinese-developed Feitian space suit, conducted a 22-minute space walk, the first ever for a Chinese astronaut.[10][11] Zhai slipped out of the orbital module in a head-first position at around 16:43 (0843 GMT) and wandered around the orbital module, retrieved experiment samples and waved the Chinese flag in space. The spacewalk lasted about 20 minutes, with Zhai returning to the orbital module at 17:00.[12] The first space walk was limited in scope: cables were used to tie Zhai to the handrail outside the orbital module, and his moving route was restricted to areas near the exits. Liu Boming, wearing a Russian Orlan-M suit, stayed in the airlock in the orbital module to provide help if necessary. Liu also conducted an EVA, standing up at 08:58 UTC to hand Zhai a flag.[10] The third astronaut, Jing Haipeng remained in the re-entry module to monitor the general situation of the spacecraft.[13] By 09:00 UTC both astronauts were back inside and the hatch was closed.[10] The space walk was broadcast live on Chinese media, and two cameras provided panoramic images.[14]

The Feitian spacesuit is similar to the Orlan-M (known as Haiying, 海鹰, in Chinese) in shape and volume and are designed for spacewalks of up to seven hours,[15] providing oxygen and allowing for the excretion of bodily waste.[15] According to Chinese media reports, spacesuit materials with such features as fire and radiation resistance were developed by several civilian corporations and national institutes.[16][17] Each suit was reported to have cost 30 million RMB (about US$4.4 million).[18][19] Except for the gloves of the Feitian suit, the space suits were not brought back to Earth.[20][21]

A fire alarm was reported to the control center at the beginning of the EVA, but it was confirmed to be a false alarm.[22][23]

Solid lubricant experiment

Scientists conducted a solid lubricant exposure experiment during the mission. A piece of equipment the size of a book was installed on the outside wall of the orbital module, and was later retrieved during the space walk, after having been exposed in space for more than 40 hours. The experiment was aimed to study a lubricant which will be used for space-based moving components in future space facilities.[24]

Release of miniaturized satellite
Main article: BanXing

A miniaturized satellite was released during the mission on 27 September at 19:24, after Zhai returned to the spacecraft. The satellite was a cube about 40 cm (16 in) long, with a mass of 40 kilograms (88 lb); it carried boost devices and two 150-megapixel stereo cameras.[25] The satellite's tasks included testing the mini-satellite technology, observing and monitoring the spacecraft, and testing the tracking and approaching technology used for space rendezvous and docking.[26]

The miniaturized satellite took photos and videos near the spacecraft, then maneuvered to about 100 to 200 kilometres (62 to 124 mi) away from the spacecraft. After the return module separated from the spacecraft and re-entered the atmosphere, the satellite caught up to the orbiting spacecraft using a liquid ammonia engine, then continue to orbit around the spacecraft. The mini-satellite will work for about three months.[27]

Data relay satellite

China launched its first data relay satellite, called Tianlian I (天链一号), from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on a Long March-3C carrier rocket on 25 April 2008.[28] The Tianlian I satellite will be used to speed up communication between the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft and the ground stations, and to increase the amount of data that can be transferred to the ground. The Tianlian I satellite alone can cover 50 percent of the orbit of Shenzhou 7—whereas the Yuanwang space tracking ships, along with China's ten ground observation stations, have a coverage of only 12 percent—and thus will increase the total coverage to about 62 percent of the mission.[24]

Mission support and preparation

Subsystems

The Shenzhou 7 project consists of seven subsystems, with the Chinese military responsible for launching, recovering, crew, and tracking subsystems, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation responsible for the carrier rocket and spacecraft itself, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences responsible for the payloads on board the spacecraft (other than the crew).

Water training pool

A columniform water training pool of 23 metres (75 ft) in diameter and 10 metres (33 ft) in depth, located in China Astronaut Training Center, simulates the weightlessness experienced in space. A model of the Shenzhou orbital module has been used in the pool to train the crew for the space walk.[29]

Modifications to the CZ-2F carrier rocket

Special attention has been paid to solving vibration problems that were encountered 120 seconds into the Shenzhou 5 mission. These vibrations were described by Shenzhou 5 astronaut Yang Liwei as hard to endure. Corrective measures were implemented for the Shenzhou 6 mission, but since then more improvements have been added to the carrier rocket, to the pipes of the second stage, and to more than thirty other parts of the spacecraft..

Modifications to the spacecraft

The Orbital module has been modified and its solar panels removed in order to allow for the EVA experiment. For this same reason, in contrast to previous Shenzhou missions, it will not remain in space after its separation with the departing crew in the Return module.[30] Handrails have been added to the external wall of the Orbital module to allow the space walking astronaut to reach specific experiment areas.[31]

More cameras have been installed on this spacecraft than on the Shenzhou 6 vessel, in addition to those covering the Orbital module and the Return module.[19]

New space tracking ships

Two new, recently commissioned Yuanwang-class tracking ships, Yuanwang-5 and Yuanwang-6, played a key role in the Shenzhou VII mission.[32]

Toilets

Custom-made, compact, foldable toilets allow the astronaut's collected urine to be scientifically inspected.[33]

Project management

Most of the Shenzhou 6 project management team has stayed for the Shenzhou 7 mission. Changes in personnel include:

Controversy

According to the United States Strategic Command, at 15:07 Greenwich Mean Time on 27 September 2008, the Shenzhou 7 ship passed within 45 kilometers of the International Space Station. There is no international laws defining distance of passage of outer space objects. China did not respond to queries about why it allowed its ship to pass so close to the space station. Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, in an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal noted that the Shenzhou 7 had launched its companion satellite BX-1 four hours earlier. The IASC is a "think-tank" focused on medium and long-term security issues and their impact on the security of the United States and her key allies. He noted "China's track record of using all of its Shenzhou missions since 1999 for dual military-civil missions," and speculated that China may have used the opportunity to pass near the space station to test "co-orbital" antisatellite interception technology.[34]

gollark: (it also had all other data on it)
gollark: I did once accidentally unplug my server's boot disk while it was running.
gollark: What? You just boot into your thing fron a live USB and grub-install or something.
gollark: Isn't this just something something microkernel?
gollark: If I wanted to be slightly fancier, it could do subrequests for authentication or something.

See also

References
  1. McDowell, Jonathan (26 September 2008). "Jonathan's Space Report, Number 600". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  2. "Chinese taikonauts return as heroes after landmark spacewalk". Window of China. China View. 28 September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008. External link in |publisher=, |work= (help)
  3. "China manned mission to follow Olympics". 20 November 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  4. ""神七""神九"将太空对接 "神七"准备工作顺利 (Shenzhou 7 and Shenzhou 9 to perform space rendezvous; Shenzhou 7 preparations for work going smoothly)" (in Chinese). Longhu News Center. 4 March 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2008.
  5. "China names first "spacewalker" astronaut". Window of China. China View. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008. External link in |publisher=, |work= (help)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-08-26. Retrieved 2009-07-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. McDowell, Jonathan (29 September 2008). "JSR No. 601 draft". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  8. "Foreign leaders congratulate China on successful space mission". Xinhua. 28 September 2008. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-02-03. Retrieved 2012-01-31.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. McDowell, Jonathan (2008-10-12). "JSR No. 601". Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  11. "Taikonaut Zhai's small step historical leap for China". Xinhua. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  12. "Chinese taikonaut greets nation, world in first spacewalk". Xinhua. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  13. "神七日志：第三天 (Shenzhou 7 log: Day 3)" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 28 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  14. 神七舱外新装2台摄像机拍摄航天员太空行走 (in Chinese). Xinhua. 25 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  15. "China's astronaut outfitters design material for spacewalk suits". Xinhua. 1 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2007.
  16. 神七出舱服装特种外层防护材料上海制造 (in Chinese). 中国服装款式网. 2006-07-03. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  17. "神七"宇航服还是成都造 (in Chinese). 中国服装款式网. 20 July 2006.
  18. "Chinese astronaut walks in space". BBC news. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  19. "神七"太空服每件造价1.6亿 将实现太空行走 (in Chinese). Xinhua. 21 September 2006. Archived from the original on 10 October 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  20. "China's indigenous Feitian space suit". China.org. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2008. External link in |publisher= (help)
  21. "神七载人飞船返回舱搭载物亮相". Sina.com. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  22. "王兆耀解释为何打开舱门相当周折：不可能着火 (Wang Zhaoyao explains why opening the cabin doors is safe: It cannot catch fire)" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 27 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  23. "Spokesman says fire alarm in Shenzhou-7 false, no fire breaks out". Xinhua. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  24. "Chief designer says Shenzhou-7 has four tasks". Xinhua. 26 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  25. "伴飞小卫星将给神七"照相"(Banfei miniature satellite to "take pictures" of Shenzhou 7)" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  26. "Shenzhou-7 launches small monitoring satellite". Xinhua. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  27. "伴飞小卫星将"追赶"分离后的神七轨道舱 (Banfei miniature satellite to "chase" Shenzhou 7 orbital module after separation)" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 24 September 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
  28. "China blasts off first data relay satellite". Xinhua. 26 April 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  29. "10米水下"太空漫步" (A "space stroll" under 10 meters of water)" (in Chinese). Sohu.com. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
  30. "神八2010年首飞 运载火箭将有重大变化 (Delivery rockets for 2010 maiden flight of Shenzhou 8 to undergo major changes)" (in Chinese). Phoenix TV. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
  31. 神七准备中俄产两套航天服 出舱将穿国产服 (in Chinese). People's Daily. 23 July 2008. Archived from the original on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  32. 我国新一代航天远洋测量船完成海上设备精度鉴定 (in Chinese). China Government online. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  33. "神七厕所南京制造 (Nanjing manufactures Shenzhou 7 toilets)" (in Chinese). Xinhua. 3 September 2008. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2008.
  34. Fisher, Richard D., Jr., "China's Close Call", The Wall Street Journal Asia, 31 October 2008, p. 15.
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