-
LIVE: Shenzhou-8 CZ-2F (Y8) launch and docking events - October-November, 2011 by Satori on 22 Jan, 2011 21:04
-
China is gearing up for the Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 launches, so I'm creating a new thread for the upcoming unmanned Shenzhou-8 docking mission with Tiangong-1.
Space rendezvous and docking missions drop test team successfully completed field trials (original in chinese).
Google translation:
Beginning of winter frost cold days, cold and windy. In the vast Gobi Desert, ushered in a team responsible for space rendezvous and docking "God eight" experimental field test task team.
This trial is about "God eight" mission-critical technology validation, to ensure success. After receiving the mission, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation test the five branches of 508 players around the clock to install analog module debugging, testing and commissioning of data processing. This test team to be completed by the spacecraft in the simulation chamber drop experiments, test cycles and staffing are very nervous, and every team member must wear many hats. The arrival of the new year at this time distance is only a short period of ten days.
The first time this season, field trials, the Gobi roaring wind suddenly blew out on the good weather we have a trace of fantasy. The start of the test team have been carried out in the plant with assembly, test, the FBI. At noon, the maximum temperature inside the plant are below freezing, morning and evening temperatures are lower. Frozen hands to rub a rub before continuing. This work continued into the night, and sometimes the next morning two or three.
Quick frozen on the outside during the day into a "popsicle" Back to the hostel at night, heating also seems less to power, the young players test Maoku sleep all night wearing a sweater. As a space, they no regrets. Including old comrades, all the team members, including female members of their duties in a busy figure who has become a beautiful landscape.
To participate in the initial field test of the young man Wei Kai, feel the body, including down jackets, sweater dress, including four as if suddenly become a piece of paper that he kept his stomach is not suspected it has come out.
Dozens of players in this environment on standby, temporary reunification of the acquisition test team wearing thick "cap Lei Feng", everyone wrapped him up like the Northwest. Hungry, eating only bread or biscuits point cold, mineral water is already frozen lump of ice. Not to mention instant noodles, drink of hot water is luxury.
Field experiments depend on weather, many uncertain factors. Task is not progressing as the imagination as well, due to various reasons, the program repeatedly postponed. Every time they got the order, the players were immediately put down breakfast, the fastest to do "battle" ready. Sometimes, "Everything is ready, only a strong wind", but due to a command, "battle" for canceled. Once the test team members get up very early, so ready to go, the sky is Buzuo Mei, from the warm sun is shining, blue skies, suddenly become a bleak, snow fluttering. At that time coincides with Christmas, the players are optimistic about the ridicule to say that this snow is a Santa Claus to give the "surprise."
"Decisive battle" on the day, local weather information display, aircraft and spacecraft simulation chamber at high altitude drop when temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees, low temperature product stability and reliability will be enormous challenges.
Trial began, the silver out of large transport aircraft piercing, just like an eagle hovering in the blue sky. Suddenly, the plane's "belly" open, tilted out of the spacecraft simulation chamber.
"Parachute it!" Someone shouted. Gaze looked, the sky, the simulation module on the pilot parachute, parachute, the main parachute opened one after another, slowly falling. Suddenly, dozens of trial team drop zone like a child, shouted, scrambling to jump off-road vehicles, to the target to chase.
Catch up with the goals, closing the umbrella, and lifting both analog module is also complicated and hard Leihuo. Test players a little bit to check whether the product is damaged, to ensure that products are intact, the weight of several pounds of the umbrella close up entirely artificial.
The low temperature of minus 20 degrees, the exposed hands and frozen a few minutes, even the cameraman is also worried about the camera because the weather is too cold and "strike", took a few photos, immediately cover the camera while his bosom . However, from the "hardened" old comrades to "prime" and "90", not a player complain, no one is lazy, and everyone is very focused and orderly operation of the, excitement and joy of success written on the face of each player.
In this memorable winter, intense work, difficult environment, the joy of success are always fixed in the minds of these astronauts, the beauty of blooming desert their parachutes became the best new year gift. (Yang Yan Li / Wen Fan Xue-Chao / photo)
-
#1 by marcus79 on 23 Jan, 2011 09:51
-
Reading this, it seems the Chinese program runs under very different laws of physics!
Shows the problem with these automatic translations. No grasp of the proper context of terms. -
#2 by Satori on 17 Feb, 2011 17:05
-
#3 by nickyp on 17 Feb, 2011 19:37
-
''test cycles and staffing are very nervous, and every team member must wear many hats.''
Hehe
-
#4 by Steven Pietrobon on 18 Feb, 2011 05:35
-
I think Yahoo babelfish gives a better translation. Some passages are almost poetic!
The space rendezvous docking mission air delivery test team completes the field trial smoothly
2011-01-19 15:59: 55
Editor's note: In order to defer to the duty plan to complete the simulation cabin air delivery test, the Shenzhou eight duty field trial team's members in winter season Gobi desert day and night fighting bravely, have annotated “can endure hardship specially, can fight specially, can attack specially, can offer specially” the man-in-space flight spirit by the practical action.
Winter season, cold wind bone-chilling cold. In boundless Gobi Desert, has welcomed a load space rendezvous docking “the god eight” the field trial duty experimental team.
This experiment concerns “the god eight” the duty key technologies confirmation, must guarantee successfully. After receiving the duty, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. five courtyard 508 experiment members day and night debug the installment simulation cabin, the processing association to try the data. This experimental team must complete the airship simulation cabin air delivery test task the year ago, the test cycle and the personnel disposes is anxious, each member must hold several posts at the same time. But this time was away from the new year arrival only then the short ten days.
First time carried on the field trial in such season, Gobi howls the strong winds which came to blow out everybody all of a sudden a fantasy which held to the fine weather. When starts, experiments the members to carry on the workshop is assembling, the test, jointing shake down testing. , In the workshop maximum temperature in below zero, the sooner or later temperature will be noon lower. The hand has been frozen stiff, rubs continues again. Such work has continued the evening, sometimes also to next day 2-3:00 am.
Is daytime frozen in outside the shazam to become “the icicle”, evening returns to the dormitory, the warm air also appears not that gives the strength, the young experimental member evening puts on the woolen sweater knitted wool trouser to go to sleep. As astronautics person, they have no complain and regret. Including old comrade, the female member's all members hold post bustles about the form, becomes a sharp scenery.
First young fellow Wei who participates in the experiment to the outfield high-quality iron, felt that on the body including the down clothing, wool sweater's four clothes as if instantaneous turned a paper, he does not stop suspected that his belly have revealed.
Several dozens members momentarily await orders in such environment, wear the experimental team temporary unification purchase thick “Lei Feng the hat”, each people bind look like northwest uncle. Hungry only has also been able to gnaw a cold bread or the biscuit, the mineral water already frozen becomes the ice lump. Let alone soaks the surface, can drink the hot water is the wild hope.
The field trial needs to depend on nature for a livelihood, the element of certainty are many. The duty imagines not likely progresses such smoothly, as a result of each kind of reason, the plan postpones repeatedly. As soon as each time receives the order, the members immediately lays down the breakfast, prepares for “the fight” by the quickest speed. Sometimes “all things ready, only owes the east wind”, actually because of an order, “the fight” announces cancels. Once, experiments the members very early to get out of bed, when and so on is ready and waiting, the sky actually does not cooperate, from warm positive Gao Zhao, the clear and boundless sky, turns the bone-chilling wind, the snowflake to be floating suddenly. At that time on the Christmas, the optimistic members teased said that this snowflake was Santa Claus brings “pleasantly surprised”.
“decisive battle” the same day, the local weather information demonstrated that the airplane and the airdrop airship simulation cabin's will fall in upper air time temperature to 60 degrees below zero, the low temperature condition the huge test which will bring to the product stability and the reliability.
The experiment started, silver-white color giant transport plane from out of the blue, if an eagle circles in the blue sky. Suddenly, the airplane “the belly” opens, airship simulation cabin incline.
“has deployed!”Some people shout. Fixes the eyes on looks, between the horizon, simulates in the cabin the pilot chute, the braking chute, the main chute to open one after another, falls gently slowly. Immediately, falls area several dozens to experiment the member to look like the child to cheer equally, rushes to be first jumps up all-terrain vehicle, pursues to the goal.
Pursues after the goal, receives the umbrella and the hoisting simulation cabin is also both complex tedious and the laborious tiring work. Experiments the members bit by bit to inspect the product whether to have the damage, after guaranteeing the product perfectly, is several hundred catties gamps depends entirely on receives artificially.
More than 20 degrees below zero low temperatures, both hands exposed in outside several minutes have been frozen stiff, the camera operator also worried the camera because of the weather was too cold, but “the strike”, after having made several pictures, held immediately the camera in the bosom covers a while. However after “experiences for a long time the sandy plain” old comrade “in full flower” “90”, a member had not complained that does not have a person to be loaf, all people very dedicated and are operating methodically, the success excited and writes joyfully on each member's face.
In this unforgettable winter, the intense work, the difficult environment, the success joyful forever frame in this crowd of astronautics person heart, Gobi blooms the beautiful umbrella flower also becomes them to greet the new year best gift. (Yang colorful Li Chun/Wen Fan Xuechao/absorbs) -
#5 by Phillip Clark on 18 Feb, 2011 17:15
-
One should remember that the Soviet missions to the early Salyut stations reached 63 days for two people without any ability to resupply (Salyut 4/Soyuz 18). I am not saying that this sort of duration should be expected for the missions to Tiangong 1, of course!
I would guess that we can possibly expect up to a month for a three-person crew for Tiangong 1/Shenzhou 10, while the reported ~3 weeks would be reasonable for Shenzhou 9 if Shenzhou 8 is successful.
Remember that Tiangong is actually the future cargo freighter for the larger 25-tonnes module stations, and therefore the Chinese are not just getting an ability for longer-duration missions but also flight-proving their freighter.
Perhaps the second space lab mission will be a single 25 tonnes module, with longer-duration Shenzhou flights, supported by Tiangong 1 class re-supply craft. This could see the second space lab lasting a few years like the Salyut 6/7 missions. -
#6 by Phillip Clark on 19 Feb, 2011 15:35
-
Some more thoughts, thinking back to the early Soviet programme.
The docking of Cosmos 186 and 188 - unmanned Soyuz spacecraft - was on the latter's first circuit. Essentially the same for Cosmos 212 and 213. The 25 hours duration between launch and docking only came in with Soyuz 4 and 5.
So we could possibly see the Chinese using a fast rendezvous with Tiangong 1??
Of course, the Chinese might well choose something completely different, but I would be surprised if their launch to docking is more than about a day. -
#7 by Danderman on 19 Feb, 2011 16:05
-
Some more thoughts, thinking back to the early Soviet programme.
The docking of Cosmos 186 and 188 - unmanned Soyuz spacecraft - was on the latter's first circuit. Essentially the same for Cosmos 212 and 213. The 25 hours duration between launch and docking only came in with Soyuz 4 and 5.
So we could possibly see the Chinese using a fast rendezvous with Tiangong 1??
Of course, the Chinese might well choose something completely different, but I would be surprised if their launch to docking is more than about a day.
The Soviets had the luxury of multiple launch pads, so the opportunity for single orbit rendezvous was available to them. I don't think the Chinese will be able to mount two launches in an hour or so, leaving them with the problem of the orbital planes not lining up perfectly for the 2nd launch. In this case, a longer period on-orbit may be required for the rendezvous, using the dwell time to line up the planes.
-
#8 by Jorge on 19 Feb, 2011 18:15
-
Some more thoughts, thinking back to the early Soviet programme.
The docking of Cosmos 186 and 188 - unmanned Soyuz spacecraft - was on the latter's first circuit. Essentially the same for Cosmos 212 and 213. The 25 hours duration between launch and docking only came in with Soyuz 4 and 5.
So we could possibly see the Chinese using a fast rendezvous with Tiangong 1??
Of course, the Chinese might well choose something completely different, but I would be surprised if their launch to docking is more than about a day.
It depends on what their objectives are. Prompt rendezvous is easier when launching two spacecraft in quick succession like Cosmos 186/188 (or Gemini/Agena) since the first launch can set up favorable conditions for the second. For an established space station in orbit, prompt rendezvous results in short and infrequent launch windows, which is operationally undesirable. That is why both the Russian and US programs independently converged later on flight day 3 rendezvous as it provides every-day launch opportunities. OTOH, Cosmos 186/188 and Gemini/Agena were precursors to lunar programs that *required* prompt rendezvous, so they needed to demonstrate it.
So as I see it, if Shenzhou is a lunar precursor, the Chinese may place higher priority on demonstrating prompt rendezvous. OTOH, if Tiangong is a precursor for long-duration LEO missions, the Chinese may not place a priority on prompt rendezvous, and rather demonstrate the operational profile they would intend to use long-term.
(And, as David points out, for prompt rendezvous multiple pads are required...) -
#9 by Phillip Clark on 20 Feb, 2011 09:11
-
I am not clear what multiple pads have to do with my suggestion.
You only need multiple pads if the two spacecraft are going to be launched within a day or two of each other, as happened on the dual Cosmos missions, Soyuz 4-5 and even Soyuz 6-7-8.
Tiangong 1, we know, will have been in orbit for a few weeks before Shenzhou 8 is launched. That will not stop Shenzhou 8 doing a first orbit rendezvous after *its* launch, if the Chinese wish to do that.
However, remember that the manoeuvre to circularise the Shenzhou orbit comes ~7 hours after launch, so that is a major constraint. I would imagine that a docking ~24 hours after launch is more likely - more mainland tracking coverage during the final approach and docking. -
#10 by Satori on 27 Mar, 2011 13:07
-
Preparing the CZ-2F for the Shenzhou-8 launch, http://www.spacechina.com/xwzx_tpxw_Details.shtml?recno=74221
-
#11 by Satori on 01 Apr, 2011 08:33
-
Large-scale testing begins for the Shenzhou-8 after functional and mechanical tests.
-
#12 by lucspace on 11 May, 2011 17:41
-
More pictures now emerging
-
#13 by Satori on 11 May, 2011 18:16
-
#14 by lucspace on 11 May, 2011 19:55
-
#15 by Satori on 11 May, 2011 21:19
-
#16 by 8900 on 12 May, 2011 10:22
-
LM logo looks like Airbus?
-
#17 by limen4 on 04 Jul, 2011 18:12
-
Shanghai Space Technology Academy finished design of commemorative philatelic enveloppes for Shenzhou-8 mission. Launch is explicitly quoted on the enveloppes for October and recovery for November.
-
#18 by Satori on 04 Jul, 2011 18:19
-
Shanghai Space Technology Academy finished design of commemorative philatelic enveloppes for Shenzhou-8 mission. Launch is explicitly quoted on the enveloppes for October and recovery for November.
Great! Thanks for that! -
#19 by Satori on 01 Sep, 2011 09:48
-
Shenzhou-8 arrived at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on August 26: http://www.cmse.gov.cn/news/show.php?itemid=1611 (in Chinese)
