http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-03/04/c_136101226.htmChina's 1st cargo spacecraft to make three rendezvous with Tiangong-2
I think I might be right here, but will Tianzhou docking with Tiangong 2 be the first time that a significantly heavier spacecraft has been the active partner in a docking operation?
Quote from: Phillip Clark on 03/13/2017 10:37 amI think I might be right here, but will Tianzhou docking with Tiangong 2 be the first time that a significantly heavier spacecraft has been the active partner in a docking operation?Automated/unmanned, probably. Apollo + APAS was way heavier than Soyuz in the 1975 rendez-vous, and it was the active part for the two docking operations performed during the mission. Besides, Shuttle would have been heavier than Mir in 1995, no?
Quote from: eeergo on 02/13/2017 11:29 amSome images of TZ-1 (and what looks like a Shenzhou orbital module?) in ChinaSpaceFlight's twitter:https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/831085372687781888Arrived Feb 3rd in Hainan, mid-March scheduled for the CZ-7 carrier.That thing is probably the pressurized compartment of the 2nd TZ unit - wrong launch site for Shenzhou I'm afraid. Launch is scheduled for mid-late April.
Some images of TZ-1 (and what looks like a Shenzhou orbital module?) in ChinaSpaceFlight's twitter:https://twitter.com/cnspaceflight/status/831085372687781888Arrived Feb 3rd in Hainan, mid-March scheduled for the CZ-7 carrier.
Cross-posting from the Tiangong 2 thread.During April 4-6 the orbit of Tiangong 2 was raised from 92.12 min, 374-382 km to 92.26 minutes, 379-391 km which is slightly above the 46-circuits repeating orbit period.Presumably this is in preparation for the Tianzhou 1 launch - still scheduled for April 23?
According to speculation here, in 23 April 19:40http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/148990140.jpg
Roll-out on 17th, launch on 20thVery accurate information belowhttp://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=89195&mobile=0
Quote from: SmallKing on 04/09/2017 06:52 amRoll-out on 17th, launch on 20thVery accurate information belowhttp://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=89195&mobile=0Like most people on here, I cannot read Chinese. So am I right in reading a launch time of 22:00 on April 20th, Beijing Time? That time seems to be rather "rounded".
Quote from: Phillip Clark on 04/09/2017 07:35 amQuote from: SmallKing on 04/09/2017 06:52 amRoll-out on 17th, launch on 20thVery accurate information belowhttp://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=89195&mobile=0Like most people on here, I cannot read Chinese. So am I right in reading a launch time of 22:00 on April 20th, Beijing Time? That time seems to be rather "rounded".That's end time of rocket party. In the likely scenario, Roll-out should be on 17th morning, and Launch in 19:40:45 20th, backup window on 23th, according to some calculation herehttp://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=68618&pid=535438