hal - 2/1/2008 6:34 AMhttp://www.sinodefence.com/strategic/mannedspace/shenzhou8-9-10.aspI've never heard of this TianKong 1 before. Is it really just the Shenzhou OM?
mr.columbus - 2/1/2008 1:40 PMQuotehal - 2/1/2008 6:34 AMhttp://www.sinodefence.com/strategic/mannedspace/shenzhou8-9-10.aspI've never heard of this TianKong 1 before. Is it really just the Shenzhou OM?TianKong cannot just be the Shenzhou OM, as it needs to passive docking ports for docking of Shenzhou 8 and 9 respectively. It might of course very well be that they use the OM as a basis for modification, but those will need to be extensive in any event, as it needs to include attitude and flight control as well as other systems currently located in the service module and crew module of Shenzhou.
hal - 2/1/2008 1:40 PMI think "within a month" means "within a month of each other", not "within a month from now!"
meiza - 2/1/2008 8:46 AMQuotemr.columbus - 2/1/2008 1:40 PMQuotehal - 2/1/2008 6:34 AMhttp://www.sinodefence.com/strategic/mannedspace/shenzhou8-9-10.aspI've never heard of this TianKong 1 before. Is it really just the Shenzhou OM?TianKong cannot just be the Shenzhou OM, as it needs to passive docking ports for docking of Shenzhou 8 and 9 respectively. It might of course very well be that they use the OM as a basis for modification, but those will need to be extensive in any event, as it needs to include attitude and flight control as well as other systems currently located in the service module and crew module of Shenzhou.Didn't the old orbital modules already have free-flying capability: comms, attitude control etc? They left them in orbit and did remote sensing during previous Shenzhou missions IIRC.
hal - 2/1/2008 7:22 PMI don't think the illustration on the sinodefence site should be taken as being directly TianKong - it is a stock picture I've seen in lots of places. But the pictures you normally see of what I thought would be the 'man-tended' station seems to only have 1 docking port. Maybe they've changed their plans and TianKong will look different to any illustration released to date.
miom70 - 4/1/2008 6:27 AMThe correct spelling of space lab is Tian Gong(=space palace).
Liss - 4/1/2008 10:05 AMQuotemiom70 - 4/1/2008 6:27 AMThe correct spelling of space lab is Tian Gong(=space palace). miom70, thank you. A mention of the Tiangong 1 by Mao Yongjun from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center may be found at http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2006-09/19/content_5110179_2.htm .
hal - 4/1/2008 9:47 PMmiom70 - thanks for the new pictures. Still only looks like 1 docking port to me.Unless the unmanned Shenzhou 8 is really some kind of multiple docking adapter?
hesidu - 4/1/2008 2:37 PMQuotehal - 4/1/2008 9:47 PMmiom70 - thanks for the new pictures. Still only looks like 1 docking port to me.Unless the unmanned Shenzhou 8 is really some kind of multiple docking adapter?Those pictures demonstrated a space lab docking with a Shenzhou spaceship. It certaionly not Shenzhou 8. Shenzhou 8 will dock with Shenzhou 9. After that, space lab may be launched by CZ-5 rocket. And a shenzhou spaceship will send man to operate the space lab.
hesidu - 4/1/2008 3:47 PMWhy they need a separated "space adaptor" to dock with Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9? Why don't just put an "adaptor" on the top of the service capsule of Shenzhou 8 or Shenzhou 9. Are there any technical difficulties ?