Shenzhou VI Mission Thread

[shuttle_rtf]

It is confirmed on most of the major wires that they are indeed slipping Orbit. No report on how much they have slipped and at what rate.

 

[toymaker]

Is that dangerous or is it within range of normal problems during such flights ?

 

[nacnud]

What on Earth is slipping orbit??? Too much drag, orbit not circularized enough? I think there is an odd translation in there somewhere (no pun intened).

 

[mikejz]

I believe that the order was that the next flight would be an EVA, and the flight after that would test docking with the 1st one.

 

[nacnud]

<img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[ace5]

SZ6 is said to be identical, externally, to SZ5.<br />So it may have the large box-like camera apparatus at the front end. (see my drawing);<br />And a redocking of the descent module with the OM once it is jettisoned is impossible, since the OM-DV connection is (like Soyuz) pyrotechnically severed.<br />And I dont think that the camera in front of SZ6 (if it is actually carried) is attached to an ejectable active- docking system, necessitating to be jettisoned to free a passive one, to be used in another SZ mission for a rendezvous and docking... <br />(Like the Soyuz 16 ASTP docking test ring)<br />Too complicated and mass-consuming.<br />I prefer to assume that the slipping orbit is only an translation issue.<br />Lets follow the mission, though.

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Anyone care to speculate on the frequency of launches? They do seem to be taking an extraordinary amount of time between SZ's. Do you think this is due to financial constraints, or perhaps there is a huge amount of data to be analysed and fed into the Program from the current mission? Or is it simply a very cautious attitude on the part of the Chinese? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[mikejz]

I'm willing to bet it's more from the poor state of the state run company. I'm willing to bet that those boosters are built far more by hand and without highend tooling.

 

[yurkin]

I suspect its all 3<br /><br />Financial Constraints<br />Increases in Capability<br />Chinese Nature

 

[tmccort]

<br />Right now the Chinese space program has a budget of around $2 billion a year which is about on par with the ESA but still a far cry from NASA's $16 billion.

 

[toymaker]

Of course you have to take also into account the purchasing power. 2billion $ buys you more in China then in USA(that is not to say they spend more on space then USA)

 

[no_way]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr /><p>Right now the Chinese space program has a budget of around $2 billion a year<p><hr /></p></p></blockquote><br />Where did you get this number from ? IIRC, two billion was reported to be the <b>entire cost</b> of the human spaceflight effort at the time of SZ5 flight.

 

[thinice]

<i>Within a decade they will control the high ground of space.</i><br /><br />As soon as China stops support the US trading deficit, their economy will just collapse since internal market cannot consume all those goods that flood the world market. They will be dealing with hundreds of millions of unemployed people. Bye-bye space program.

 

[tmccort]

<font color="yellow">IIRC, two billion was reported to be the entire cost of the human spaceflight effort at the time of SZ5 flight.</font><br /><br />I'm sorry, your probably right. If entire cost of the Shenzhou program has been 2.3 billion, the average yearly budget since the start of Project 921 should be around $170 million. (more in recent years no doubt)<br /><br />EDIT: Now I'm seeing more references to the 2.3 billion a year figure but can't find any hard data. James Oberg for example in his Senate testimony gives the figure of $2 billion but doesn't say how this is known.

 

[ace5]

http://www.geocities.com/edkeffel/sz-dock.jpg<br /><br />Two docked Shenzhou orbital modules.

 

[ace5]

So, we can assume that SZ has not the 3 externally- fitted hatch-opening keys attached to the bottom of the descent vehicle (like Soyuz). These keys are standard equipment of Soyuz, because the cosmonauts in the interior can be injered or incouncious at the time of impact with the ground, and so they can be accessed from the exterior by any person who wants to help them out. I found it very strange that the Chinese will leave their crew with only their own means to open the vehicle from inside... If the internal nechanism falis, they would be forced to remain inside until being rescued. Strange.

 

[ace5]

Yes!

 

[ace5]

I think SZ-6 will modify its orbit once more.<br /><br />I cant remenber if the previous SZ vehicles had changed their orbits more than one time in earlier flights. Maybe a burn to circularize the elliptical orbit;<br /><br />Maybe more manouvers -- intented -- to replicate a docking procedure?<br /><br />Anyone aware if the vehicle will return earlier, of it will be back on monday as planned?

 

[ace5]

newsartist,<br /><br />The grand prix are run at 13:00 local time, I think... What time is 13:00 in Beijing, in GMT????

 

[gaetanomarano]

<br /><font color="yellow">I don't understand why MANY want to dismantle the Shuttles "as soon as possible" or (best) TO-DAY!<br /><br />I don't understand why the Shuttle can't be used WITHOUT crew (after conversion) for 100+ cargo flights as explained here www.gaetanomarano.it/spaceShuttle/spaceshuttle.html and here http://uplink.space.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=missions&Number=345521&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=16&vc=1<br /><br />I don't understand why so much people are so much "excited" about the new-old-looking CEV-SDLV-Lunar program!<br /><br />The image below synthetize WHAT (I think) may happen in 2025 if the "CEVpollo" will be REALLY made...</font><br /><br />[ this image can be freely distributed and published, but without changes ]<br /><br /><br />

 

[tap_sa]

Keep the shuttle rant in shuttle thread. This is Shenzou thread, <i>capisci</i>?

 

[gaetanomarano]

ok, but the post regards also the future of Shenzhou in respect of the modest CEV (probably China never build a so big spaceship, but, if NASA spend the money for CEV-SDLV, can't build a reliable and INNOVATIVE replacement of Shuttle)

 

[ace5]

The landing hour is nearing. Anyone aware of any fresh news?

 

[bobw]

They might be down by now. Here's the latest from<br /><br />http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2005s6/news.htm<br /><br />- TAIKONAUTS REPORT FEELING GOOD, MAIN PARACHUTE WORKING WELL 17/10<br />- PRIMARY LANDING SITE REPORTS NORMAL RETRIEVAL OPERATIONS<br />- GROUND STATION RECEIVES SIGNAL FROM SHENZHOU-6 17/10<br />- HELICOPTER POLITS REPORT RE-ENTRY MODULE IN SIGHT 17/10<br />- TAIKONAUTS UNFURL MAIN PARACHUTE 17/10<br />- SHENZHOU-6 10 KM ABOVE GROUND, MAIN PARACHUTE TO BE UNFURLED 17/10<br />- RETURNING SHENZHOU-6 BREAKS THROUGH BLACKOUT AREA 17/10<br />- SHENZHOU-6 RE-ENTRY CAPSULE CAUGHT BY RADAR 17/10<br />- SHENZHOU-6 RE-ENTRY CAPSULE ENTERS BLACKOUT AREA 17/10<br />- RE-ENTRY MODULE SEPARATES FROM PROPULSION MODULE 17/10<br />- SHENZHOU-6 ENTERS CHINESE TERRITORIAL AIR SPACE 17/10<br />- TAIKONAUTS ABOVE SOUTH ASIA <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

- SHENZHOU-6 TOUCHES DOWN <br /><br />- HELICOPTER PILOT REPORTS RE-ENTRY CAPSULE STANDING UPRIGHT 17/10<br />- HELICOPTER PILOT REPORTS LIGHT SIGNAL OF RE-ENTRY CAPSULE IN SIGHT 17/10<br />- Rescue teams arrive in primary landing site of Shenzhou-6 17/10<br />- TAIKONAUTS REPORT SAFE LANDING IN GOOD HEALTH 17/10 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>