Shenzhou VI Mission Thread

[ace5]

http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/3094<br /><br />The second Shenzhou manned flight, with two taikonauts, will spend 5 days in space. The external configuration is said to be identical to SZ-5. <br /><br />Edit:<br />related thread by shuttle_guy<br /><br />http://uplink.space.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=missions&Number=353221&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=<br /><br />

 

[ace5]

Shenzhou VI (SZ-6) is on the pad!<br />http://www.spacedaily.com/news/china-05zzzzzzzzl.html

 

[alokmohan]

Most welcome development.

 

[holmec]

Nice, pretty quick too. I didn't expect it to be so soon. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Its been two years....

 

[toymaker]

Well the country was founded 5.000 years ago.They know...patience <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br />But seriously, I like the way they operate.Very characteristic of Chinese, very pragmatic and determined without uneeded fuzz, step by step.I think this attitude is admirable and may led to succes.Hopefully in a couple of years we will see Chinese space lab.

 

[paleo]

There's no rush. No Cold War. No imperative to be the first to do much of anything. No need to launch a manned rocket every six months for the sake of it.<br /><br /> There's an irony that the two countries puting folks in space for the rest of the decade will be what once were the two big scary Red menaces.

 

[ace5]

The Chinese pace can be compared to the Soviet approach from first unmanned Soyuz flights (1966) and first manned (1967) until the first Salyut station (1971): 5 years.<br />They launched manned Shenzhou 5 in 2003, and by 2008 they possibly will me putting a small lab in orbit.<br />From 1967 to 1971 the Soviet Union orbited Soyuz 1, rendesvoused Soyuz 2 and 3, docked Soyuz 4 and 5, flew 6, 7 and 8 (almost) together, sent Soyuz 9 in a 18-day flight and docked Soyuz 10 and 11 to Salyut 1.<br />There was pressure to accomplish space firsts, and there was a call for space spectacles. And there were accidents, of course.<br />Several setbacks marred each of these missions, mainly due to haste.<br />It seems that the Chinese have no hurry because they are preparing each mission combining the earlier with the next (the orbital modules of each SZ are left into orbit and performs their own research program, leading to mission duration time well beyond Soyuz - wich orbital modules decayed at retrofire).<br />So, SZ6 will test a longer flight (more or less Soyuz 3 but with no docking planned); Problably SZ7 and 8 will be docked and/or an EVA will be tested (?) combining the flight objectives of Soyuz 4 to 8; And a small space lab (combining longer duration flights of Soyuz 9 and dockings of Soyuz 10 and 11) could be in the sight of SZ9... Who knows?<br /><br />So it seems that the Chinese are, like Toymaker said, very patient, and their program is actually managed in a slow pace because they are combining several steps forward in a single mission.

 

[ace5]

http://www.geocities.com/edkeffel/sz-6b1.jpg<br />I made this drawing of SZ6 assuming that it will be almost identical to SZ5.<br />The vehicle is shown without termal protection. By the way I dont know if the thermal protection of the Chinese spacecraft is silver coloured or dark gray like Soyuz TM.<br />Feel free to correct any details in the drawing. Thanks.

 

[kane007]

3 hours 10 minutes till liftoff???

 

[kane007]

Freedom of the press = PRC - yeah sure!

 

[kane007]

What’s the point in trying to cover it up in the event of a launch failure? I mean any one of the US Space Commands DSP birds would easily detect the infrared spike of massive failure and then broadcast this to the world.<br /><br /><font color="red">DO NO HARM</font>/safety_wrapper>

 

[kane007]

And Russian, Japanese, & Korean assets.

 

[ace5]

I dont think they are affraid of lose SZ6. The launcher is proven and the spacecraft is ready. Accidents may occur anyway, televised or not.<br />Russia (USSR) televised live for the first time during Soyuz 19 ASTP after 6 perfect Vostok, 2 perfect Voskhod and 18 perfect Soyuz launches (excluding high altitude abort of Soyuz 18A).<br />It seems a mere question of the irritating oriental way of doing things...<br />Please, no prejudice here...

 

[kane007]

Oh S_G, you have a twisted and subtle sence of humour.

 

[nasa_rsa_esa_cnsa]

americans tell lies in media same as russia and also china. this why media is no good source. know from scientific community is best way for truth only. i think russia and china maybe work together in space. americans no want to share or work. want all for them only. this make many angry in space world except usa. say speak is free here in usa but i see for speak easy in russia now. russia maybe better now. america people speak is for rich only. poor people no speak here in usa. take peoples talk away here in usa is more now.

 

[tmccort]

<br />According to all the main China news sources, the launch will be tonight and will be broadcast live.

 

[kane007]

Anyone know if the "Google Earth" can provide real time (or delayed) images of Jiuquan and surrounds?

 

[ace5]

"They could just say we faked our data.....and there was an auto accident and the astronauts were killed... "<br /><br />Oh, S_G, you are not talking seriously...<br />

 

[ace5]

SZ inclination: 42,4 degrees.<br /><br />Anyone knows how long the taikonauts take to don their suits before launch? Maybe they are suited up by now...?

 

[bpcooper]

Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng to pilot, according to xinhua (just released). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[spayss]

"They could just say we faked our data.....and there was an auto accident and the astronauts were killed... "<br /><br /> I hope this is a 'funny' and not more conspiracy paranoia.

 

[redgryphon]

The broadcast is from 8-9 pm EST, so presumably the launch will be then. <br /><br />Astronauts have entered the vehicle, after a sendoff from party bigwigs. Snow has been falling, but has stopped.

 

[kane007]

And who is broadcasting it?<br /><br />Any web broadcasters?<br /><br /><font color="yellow">"keep it simple, stupid!"</font>/safety_wrapper>

 

[kane007]

" I hope this is a 'funny' and not more conspiracy paranoia."<br /><br />Maybe they'll blame any destruction on a Romulan war bird!