China's Space Program, News & Views

Chang'e-2 has left the SE-L2 point on April 15, and has set up a trajectory towards Toutatis(asteroid). The fly-by is scheduled on January 6, 2013. cas.cn/zt/hyzt/16thysdh/zb/

BREAKING NEWS!!! Launch time 10:37 UTC on June 16. Crew is

Jing Haipeng



Liu Wang



Liu Yang

On June 14, under the coordination of the BACC, the last general simulation of the launch was carried successful.

The origin of the article: stdaily.com/stdaily/content/2012-06/12/content_480726.htm

The chief engineer of the Shenzhou spacecraft, Bonan Zhang confirms that the Shenzhou-9 will include two docking:

* The first will be fully automatic docking, like Shenzhou-8 with TQ-1
* The second and manual docking will take place a few days later

He also confirmed that the flight time of the two entities docked will be for 10 days.
He indicates that the Shenzhou-9 has three main objectives :

* Recheck the automatic docking procedure and evaluate the manual one
* Check the status of technology related to life support of all entities docked (TQ-1 + Shenzhou-9)
* Check the performance improvements in Shenzhou-9, developed from data collected from Shenzhou-8

He adds that TQ-1 total volume is 40m3 with 15m3 where astronauts can move. TQ-1 will be used as a workplace to conduct experiments and the place of rest and exercise, while the orbital module will be served as the dining room and toilets. Shenzhou-9 will carry about 300kg of cargo, there are mainly food and the test subjects.

Zhang concluded his interview by saying that the contents of the Shenzhou-9 mission was originally planned in the mission of Shenzhou-10 (Chinese engineers did not think that everything goes "as" well, relatively speaking), so the manned program office will change the content of the mission of Shenzhou-10 based on the results of the Shenzhou-9.

First, a hilariously biased article:
Want to be a female taikonaut in China? You better smell good, and no scars - The Globe and Mail

Here's a more objective look at the issue:
What does it take to be China's first woman in space?

The origin of the article: chinanews.com/gn/2012/06-13/3960690.shtml

In a interview, the commander of Chinese astronauts CHEN Shan Kwong said that :

* Training for the manual docking was launched in June 2009.
* The astronauts have two handles joystick to maneuver the docking.
* Each astronaut have conducted more than 1000 simulated manual docking in the simulation module of Shenzhou (scale 1:1)and also in the simulation module TQ-1, in normal mode and emergency mode.
* The most foods in TQ-1 are experimental so some are not edible directly, the "true food" will be brought by Shenzhou-9.
* Live butterflies will be taken to space in this mission.

A mini-documentary where we learn some interesting details:

*In the simulation module of TQ-1 at 1:1 scale, there is a rest area where astronauts can sleep, rest or play music.

*TQ-1 was designed from the start to fit the special needs of women astronauts, which means that the choice of having an woman astronaut on one of the following missions (Shenzhou-8, 9 and 10) was defined at the beginning and not a recent decision

*We see how the astronauts' food is produced and its variety

*There is a small passage that shows how the astronauts of Shenzhou-6 eat inside the vessel

*The astronauts can send pictures and emails in real time through satellite data-link TL-1-01 and TL-1-02 (A third satellite of the same type, TL-1-03, will be launched in July this years)

*At the end there is a small 3D animation to show the lives of astronauts in TQ-1

Originally Posted by solarz

First, a hilariously biased article:
Want to be a female taikonaut in China? You better smell good, and no scars - The Globe and Mail

Here's a more objective look at the issue:
What does it take to be China's first woman in space?

In one the article is said the female Taikonaut is accommodated with a female bathroom and bedroom utilities. That's nice of them to do that for her.

Here's a reading on a typical space latrine and how astronauts clean themselves.

Potty Training - How To Go To The Bathroom In Space

Several videos broadcast by CCTV

Introduction of the astronauts's core team : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/111902.shtml

Introduction of astronaut Wang LIU : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/111934.shtml

Introduction of astronaut Yang LIU : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/111934.shtml

Interview with Commander Jing Haipeng : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/112179.shtml

Interview with Wang Liu astronaut : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/112220.shtml

Interview with astronaut Yang LIU : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/112287.shtml

The monitoring center in Xi'an is ready to guide Shenzhou-9 : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/114455.shtml

3D animation of the mission (particularly interesting) : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/114561.shtml

YuanWang 3,5 and 6 tracking ships are also making final preparations : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/115409.shtml

Press Conference with three astronauts : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/116493.shtml

It was decided that Wang Liu will perform the manual docking : news.cntv.cn/program/zdxwzx/20120615/117185.shtml

The filling of the rocket propellant is underway and will last 8 hours. the total weight of injected propellants amounts to around 453 tons, while the rocket itself weighs only 50 tons : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/117164.shtml

TQ-1 performed a rotation of 180 °, it now flies in "reverse" : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/117182.shtml

Introduction of a Chinese spacesuit (Not for EVA) : news.cntv.cn/program/zdxwzx/20120615/117291.shtml

Shenzhou 1 to Shenzhou-9, a long history of 20 years : news.cntv.cn/china/20120615/117276.shtml

is there a live feed for us to watch the event live?

Originally Posted by usaf0314

is there a live feed for us to watch the event live?

I think you can on CNTV.com, the official website of CCTV

Simulation of the Shenzhou-9 capsule recovery.

According to the chief engineer of the CZ-2F rocket, Mu Jing-chun, the rocket that will launch Shenzhou-9 is part a production's series of 5 rockets including 2 reserved for the launch of TQ-1 (one is used as a reserve) and 3 for the launch of the Shenzhou-8, 9 and 10.

Despite the fact that it is the same production's series , thirty improvements have been made to this rocket based on data collected in the launch of TQ-1 and Shenzhou-8. These improvements concern both on the equipment on ground and the rocket. A part also covers engines to further increase reliability.

As the launch date approaches, security measures has been reinforced at the site. pass at high alert and led an anti-terror drill yesterday. They have already prevented several waves of vehicles that tried to approach the perimeter of the side JSLC desert, detected by the infrared sensor systems. the military went to maximum alert level and led an anti-terror drill yesterday. They have already prevented several waves of vehicles detected by the infrared sensor systems, that tried to approach the perimeter from the desert side.




The guards of buildings on the site also activate the facial recognition system that identifies the identity of personnel operating on site.