Shenzhou 7
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This article or section documents a scheduled or expected spaceflight. Details may change as the launch date approaches or more information becomes available. |
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| Shenzhou 7 (神舟七号) | |||||
| Mission statistics | |||||
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| Mission name | Shenzhou 7 (神舟七号) | ||||
| Crew size | 3 | ||||
| Launch pad | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center | ||||
| Launch date | October 2008[1] | ||||
| Related missions | |||||
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Shenzhou 7 (traditional Chinese: 神舟七號; simplified Chinese: 神舟七号; pinyin: shén zhōu qī hào) will be the third Chinese human spaceflight. The mission will use the Shenzhou spacecraft and is expected to be launched in October 2008[2] on a Long March-2F (CZ-2F) launch vehicle.
Among the highlights of the mission will be the first three-man crew of a Chinese spacecraft and the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity. [3] The mission is scheduled to last 3 to 5 days. [4] The crew of the flight has not been announced. Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, the first three indigenously launched Chinese people, are all in training for the flight. According to Yang, they could possibly be chosen.[5] Construction of the spacecraft is reported to be proceeding smoothly, with all the separate systems delivered for integration.[6][7]
The exact details of what the EVA will entail have not been revealed. New space suits for the extra vehicular activity (舱外航天服) will be used, made with "advanced synthetics."[8] June, 2007, reports in Chinese media indicated that 300 square meters of spacesuit material, with "characteristics such as fire and radiation resistance that meet spacewalk requirements", had been made.[9] The suit is designed for a spacewalk mission of up to seven hours.[8] The suits will provide a breathable atmosphere and also allow the venting of astronaut wastes.[8] First pictures of the spacesuits have been published in the Chinese media, but whever this Chinese made suit would be chosen for the mission or the Russian Orlan-M that China has also acquired is still unknown. [10] [11] [12] Early reports indicated that the spacewalk would use suits with small propulsion units.[9] The astronauts had been training with space suits since July 2007. Movements are seriously restricted in the suits as each weighs more than 110 kilograms.[13] Pictures of a large pool filled with water containing the entire Shenzhou spacecraft used for the EVA training have been published in the Chinese media. [14] [15] [16]
October 2006 reports quote Sun Laiyan, head of CNSA as saying that "our foremost concern is safety and reliability."[17] Later, November 2007, reports quote China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) researcher Pang Zhihao that the spacewalk suits have a belt and tether to the orbital module. The tether will "conduct communications and provide oxygen".[18] The belt and tether combination are considered "safer" than alternatives.[19]
Two astronauts will enter the orbital module [20], but only one of them will actually spacewalk and conduct scientific experiments, while the two others will carefully monitor him from inside the spacecraft in order to ensure his safety.[21][22] For this, a hand launched small monitoring satellite will be used. The spacewalking astronaut will perform tasks such as installing equipment and "tightening screws". The lattest official images show clearly two astronauts outside the orbital module suggesting a possible emergency role for the second astronaut waiting inside the orbital module. [23]
A total of six astronauts are currently been trained, three for conducting the mission and three others as a backup.
According to Yang Liwei, the crew members may convene an orbital Communist Party of China (CPC) branch.[24] A remote locality with three or more Chinese Communist Party (CPC) members, such as a Shenzhou capsule with a full complement aboard, may conduct the business of a CPC branch.[24]
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[edit] Data relay satellite
China launched its first ever data relay satellite (数据中继卫星) Tianlian I (天链一号) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on a Long March-3C carrier rocket on April 25, 2008. Specially developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation to increase the communication time between the Shenzhou VII spaceship and the ground, it will also improve the amount of data that can be transferred. The Tianlian I satellite alone can cover 50 percent of the orbit of Shenzhou VII while the Yuanwang space tracking ships along with China's over ten ground observation stations have a coverage of only 12 percent, thus increasing the total coverage to about 60 percent. [25]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ 神七预计明年10月发射 将电视直播太空行走
- ^ "China manned mission to follow Olympics", 2006-11-20. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ 神舟七号出舱图. 虚幻军事天空 (April 29, 2008). Retrieved on April 29, 2008.
- ^ "神七""神九"将太空对接 "神七"准备工作顺利. 龙虎新闻中心 (March 4, 2008). Retrieved on May 1, 2008.
- ^ "China Proceeding With Assembly Shenzhou 7 Spacecraft", 2006-11-03. Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
- ^ Chine: Shenzhou 7 en cours d'assemblage [China: Shenzhou 7 being assembled] (December 2, 2007). (Google French-to-English translation: [1])
- ^ O próximo vôo tripulado do programa espacial chinês: Shenzhou 7 [The next manned flight of the Chinese space program: Shenzhou 7] (February 17, 2006). (Google Portuguese-to-English translation:[2])
- ^ a b c China's astronaut outfitters design material for spacewalk suits. Xinhua (June 1, 2007). Retrieved on December 2, 2007.
- ^ a b Xhinhua News Agency (June 1, 2007). Astronaut Outfitters Design Material for Spacewalk Suits.
- ^ 航天专家：“神七”出舱服可能采用“中国制造”. Xinhua (April 10, 2007). Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ 我们的仓外宇航服暴光了. 虚幻军事天空 (March 9, 2008). Retrieved on April 24, 2008.
- ^ 偶们宇航员进行水池训练的视频截图. 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 24, 2008.
- ^ Chinese astronauts begin training for spacewalk. People Daily Online (July 18, 2007). Retrieved on August 1, 2007.
- ^ 舱外服. 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
- ^ CCTV公开中国供航天员太空出舱训练用的巨型水池（一）. 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
- ^ CCTV公开中国供航天员太空出舱训练用的巨型水池（二）. 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
- ^ quotations attributed to Sun Laiyan, head of China National Space Administration (CNSA)Xinhua News Agency (October 26, 2006). Shenzhou VII Development Progressing Apace. Retrieved on December 2, 2007.
- ^ quotation attributed to Pang Zhihao, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) Winny Wang (November 21, 2007). Manned space launch set for next October. ShanghaiDaily.com.
- ^ quotation: Pang Zhihao, CAST 3rd Manned Spaceship to Blast Off after Olympics. BeijingReview.com (November 21, 2007). Retrieved on December 2, 2007.
- ^ 神七将于10月择机发射 1名航天员太空行走. 新华网 (June 12, 2008). Retrieved on June 12, 2008.
- ^ http://mil.longhoo.net/n21412c21.aspx
- ^ Spacewalk From Shenzhou (February 15, 2006).
- ^ 神七将于10月择机发射 1名航天员太空行走. 新华网 (June 12, 2008). Retrieved on June 12, 2008.
- ^ a b Taikonauts may build Communist Party branch in space. Xinhua News Agency (October 18, 2007).
- ^ 我国首颗中继卫星发射成功 将测控神七飞行. 人 民 网 (April 26, 2008). Retrieved on April 27, 2008.
[edit] External links
- "“神舟七号”计划2008年10月升空将首次太空行走", 人 民 网. Accessed 9 May 2008
| Shenzhou (神舟) |  |
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| Previous mission: Shenzhou 6 | Next mission: Shenzhou 8 | |
| Unmanned: Shenzhou 1 | Shenzhou 2 | Shenzhou 3 | Shenzhou 4 | ||
| Manned: Shenzhou 5 | Shenzhou 6 | ||
| Planned: Shenzhou 7 | Shenzhou 8 |Shenzhou 9 |Shenzhou 10 | ||
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