{"id":15154,"date":"2016-10-17T21:52:49","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T13:52:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/chinese-astronauts-launch-on-month-long-space-mission\/"},"modified":"2016-10-17T21:52:49","modified_gmt":"2016-10-17T13:52:49","slug":"chinese-astronauts-launch-on-month-long-space-mission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/chinese-astronauts-launch-on-month-long-space-mission\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese astronauts launch on month-long space mission"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The
The Shenzhou 11 spacecraft lifted off at 2330 GMT (7:30 p.m. EDT) Sunday, or 7:30 a.m. Beijing time Monday. Credit: Xinhua<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two Chinese military pilots rode a Long March 2F rocket into orbit Sunday, heading for the Tiangong 2 research lab to conduct experiments and practice procedures to be used on China\u2019s future space station.<\/p>\n

Commander Jing Haipeng, a veteran of two previous space missions, and rookie flight engineer Chen Dong were fastened inside the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft for the 10-minute ride into orbit.<\/p>\n

The Long March 2F rocket\u2019s first stage engines and four liquid-fueled boosters, burning a combination of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, ignited after an apparently smooth countdown to propel the 191-foot-tall (58-meter) launcher into space at 2330:31 GMT (7:30:31 p.m. EDT) Sunday.<\/p>\n

Live video of the liftoff broadcast by China\u2019s state-run CCTV news channel showed the rocket climbing into a clear sky over the Jiuquan satellite launching center in the Gobi desert, where liftoff occurred at sunrise Monday, the time determined by the orbital track of Shenzhou 11\u2019s target in orbit.<\/p>\n

Jing and Chen gave a salute to their ground team moments before launch, and a camera mounted inside Shenzhou 11\u2019s cabin showed the astronauts monitoring cockpit displays and waving during the trip into orbit.<\/p>\n

The Long March 2F\u2019s crew escape tower, four boosters and first stage fell away in the first three minutes of the flight, and an aerodynamic fairing jettisoned moments later as the rocket\u2019s second stage powered the 8-ton Shenzhou 11 spacecraft east from Jiuquan.<\/p>\n

After traversing the Chinese mainland, the second stage main engine switched off and deployed Shenzhou 11 as live video from an on-board camera showed the vehicles sailing high above Earth. Within a few minutes, Shenzhou 11 extended its two solar array wings, the first step in the ship\u2019s two-day chase of the Tiangong 2 research module.<\/p>\n

\"Astronauts
Astronauts Chen Dong (left) and Jing Haipeng (right) give a salute moments before launch. Credit: CCTV<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gen. Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China\u2019s military-run human spaceflight program, declared the launch a success.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rocket is flying according to its original plan, and the Shenzhou spacecraft has entered into its preliminary orbit,\u201d Zhang said. \u201cThe solar panel has been unfolded, and the crew is in great condition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shenzhou 11 is China\u2019s first piloted space mission in more than three years, and plans call for the astronauts to double the length record for the country\u2019s longest-duration spaceflight set in 2013.<\/p>\n

Jing, a 49-year old Chinese fighter pilot, is on his third flight in orbit after serving on the Shenzhou 7 and Shenzhou 9 crews in 2008 and 2012. He has logged 15 days in orbit going into the Shenzhou 11 mission, and will become China\u2019s most experienced astronaut by the time he lands.<\/p>\n

\u201cFlying in space is my job,\u201d Jing said through a translator in a pre-launch press conference early Sunday. \u201cIt\u2019s also my dream and my mission. Although the job itself is full of challenges and full of risks, and even danger to life, to be honest, I\u2019m really, really enthusiastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Jing is a seasoned space flier by Chinese standards, he tried to put his accomplishments in perspective in comparison with astronauts and cosmonauts from the United States and Russia.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of the astronauts, I think, have already conducted missions seven times, and some of them have flown over 400 days, and some of them (have) accumulated flight time more than 800 days,\u201d Jing said. \u201cCompared to them, I think there is a lot of room to improve for me. I will learn from them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The
The Shenzhou 11 crew, Jing Haipeng (left) and Chen Dong (right), in their launch and entry spacesuits before heading to the launch pad. Credit: Xinhua<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

His crewmate is Chen Dong, a 37-year-old pilot in the Chinese Air Force making his first voyage into space. He said Jing was like a \u201cbig brother\u201d who helped him prepare for the trip.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first time to conduct a mission,\u201d Chen said. \u201cI will really cherish every second in outer space to look out the window, to look at the globe and to look at China from space, and also (do) the things that are not possible on Earth. I will also look at photos of my family and my crew members, and write some in my diary. I can\u2019t wait for that moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chen said the schedule for the Shenzhou 11 mission is \u201cvery tight\u201d with experiments and technological demonstrations.<\/p>\n

Shenzhou 11 is on course for an automated docking with the Tiangong 2 space lab Tuesday, forming a 60-foot-long (18-meter) mini-space station. Jing and Chen will stay there for 30 days, according to Wu Ping, a spokeswoman for the China Manned Space Engineering Office.<\/p>\n

When the transit time to and from Tiangong 2 are factored in, the Shenzhou 11 astronauts will spend around 33 days in orbit before returning to Earth in mid-November.<\/p>\n

Tiangong 2 has living quarters, medical gear, provisions and experiments for the two-person Shenzhou crew.<\/p>\n

China launched the Tiangong 2 laboratory Sept. 15, and ground controllers completed a checkout of the new research module and raised its orbit to an altitude of around 244 miles (393 kilometers), the prescribed docking orbit for Shenzhou 11.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Long March 2F rocket heads downrange. Credit: Xinhua<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A small microsatellite named Banxing 2 stowed aboard Tiangong 2 will fly near the space lab in orbit and collect exterior imagery. Built by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, Banxing 2 will loiter near Tiangong 2 using an ammonia propulsion system for fine maneuvers while a 25-megapixel camera takes pictures of Shenzhou 11\u2019s docking with the space lab.<\/p>\n

Tiangong 2 is China\u2019s second human-rated research module, following the similar Tiangong 1 spacecraft launched in 2011. The latest spacecraft features several upgrades, including a robotic arm and refueling systems to test out technologies for China\u2019s planned space station.<\/p>\n

Tiangong 1 is no longer operational, and it is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth\u2019s atmosphere in late 2017. Two Shenzhou crews visited Tiangong 1: Shenzhou 9 in June 2012 and Shenzhou 10 in June 2013.<\/p>\n

Each mission stayed in space for around two weeks, building on achievements on earlier Shenzhou flights.<\/p>\n

Shenzhou 11 is China\u2019s sixth human spaceflight since Yang Liwei made a one-day orbital trip aboard Shenzhou 5 in 2003 to become the first Chinese citizen in space. China accomplished more feats on the Shenzhou 6 and 7 missions in 2005 and 2008, including the country\u2019s first spacewalk by astronaut Zhai Zhigang.<\/p>\n

China sent up the Tiangong 1 module in September 2011, and the Shenzhou 8 spacecraft flew to the space lab later that year without any astronauts on-board to conduct a series of automated docking demonstrations, laying the foundation for Shenzhou 9 and 10, which flew with the first female Chinese astronauts.<\/p>\n

Wu told reporters on the eve of Shenzhou 11\u2019s launch that astronauts will carry out \u201cman-tended medical experiments, space science experiments, orbital preparation experiments, and outreach activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Medical researchers plan to monitor how the crew\u2019s bodies respond to microgravity after a month in orbit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the increase of the flight time, the adverse effects of the weightless environment in space on the human body will be significant, especially the decay of the cardiovascular function will be more prominent, and there will be a certain degree of muscle atrophy and bone loss,\u201d Wu said.<\/p>\n

The technical parameters of the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft are nearly identical to previous Shenzhou missions, according to Wu, but ground teams improved techniques for loading cargo into the capsule to fit more supplies for the longer-duration flight.<\/p>\n

Chinese engineers designed exercise equipment \u2014 a bicycle ergometer and treadmill \u2014 to put inside Tiangong 2 to help the astronauts counteract the effects of zero gravity, Wu said.<\/p>\n

A new wide-band communications system will help the astronauts stay in touch with ground controllers and their families with voice connections, video links and data transmissions.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor instance, on this flight the astronauts will conduct an ultrasound inspection, and the ground can inspect the astronauts\u2019 cardio-pulmonary function in real-time,\u201d Wu said. \u201cThey will also participate in many science experiments, such as the replacement of space material production samples, and carry out space plant cultivation experiments.\u201d<\/p>\n

One experiment in plant biology involves the growth of lettuce in space.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are also going to carry out typical on-orbit repair experiments and verify the synergy of humans and machines,\u201d Wu said.<\/p>\n

After the departure of the Shenzhou 11 crew in November, Chinese engineers will launch a robotic resupply and refueling freighter to dock with Tiangong 2 in April 2017. Named Tianzhou 1, the cargo carrier will blast off on China\u2019s Long March 7 rocket, which made its maiden test flight in June.<\/p>\n

The Tianzhou 1 demo flight will test the cargo ship\u2019s ability to deliver food, provisions, experiments and rocket fuel to replenish stores aboard Tiangong 2, and eventually service the larger space station in the 2020s. The supply ship will have a similar role to the Progress, Dragon, Cygnus and HTV cargo vehicles flying to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

China will launch the core module of the space station as soon as 2018 on a Long March 5 rocket, a heavy-lift booster scheduled for its maiden test flight in early November.<\/p>\n

Chinese space officials consider the Shenzhou 11\/Tiangong 2 mission part of the second phase of the country\u2019s methodical three-step human spaceflight development program.<\/p>\n

The first phase ended with the demonstration of safe basic Shenzhou solo operations, while the current emphasis is on practicing for longer astronaut stays in orbit.<\/p>\n

The third part will come with the launch and assembly of a Chinese space station capable of hosting a permanent crew of three in six-month increments, and up to six astronauts for shorter periods.<\/p>\n

Several piloted spaceships and cargo missions will visit the space station\u2019s core module after its 2018 launch, then China plans to add two experimental laboratories, eyeing completion of the complex by 2022.<\/p>\n

Email the author.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Follow Stephen Clark on Twitter: @StephenClark1.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Shenzhou 11 spacecraft lifted off at 2330 GMT (7:30 p.m. EDT) Sunday, or 7:30 a.m. Beijing time Monday. Credit: Xinhua Two Chinese military pilots rode a Long March 2F rocket into orbit Sunday, heading for the Tiangong 2 research lab to conduct experiments and practice procedures to be used on China\u2019s future space station. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[3528,135,1545,1555,1578,205,1579,329],"class_list":["post-15154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-chen-dong","tag-china","tag-human-spaceflight","tag-jing-haipeng","tag-jiuquan","tag-long-march","tag-long-march-2f","tag-shenzhou"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15154"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15154"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15154\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15154"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15154"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15154"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}