PLAAF
Spacecraft · China
Original archive entry. The text, images and links below are kept as they were written.
Chinese agency overseeing development of spacecraft. People's Liberation Army Air Force, China.
Related
- People
- Fang Guojun, Wang Rongsen, Li Shichang, Lu Xiangxiao, Wang Fuquan, Shao Zhijian, Liu Chongfu, Wang Zhiyue, Zhang Ruxiang, Meng Senlin, Du Jincheng, Li Qinglong, Wu Jie, Nie Haisheng, Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong, Liu Buoming, Jing Haipen, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Wang, Dong Xiaohai, Hu Zhanzi, Liu Zhongyi, Ma Zizhong, Wang Fuhe, Wang Quanbo, Yu Guilin, Xue Lun, Chen Quan, Deng Qingming, Pan Zhanchun, Yuhangyuan 1?, Yuhangyuan 2?, Zhang Xiaoguan, Zhao Chuandong
- Country
- China
- Spacecraft
- Shuguang 1
- Flights
- Shenzhou 5
Chronology
1 event
2003 October 15
01:00 GMT - . Launch Site: Jiuquan. Launch Complex: Jiuquan SLS. LV Family: CZ. Launch Vehicle: Chang Zheng 2F.- Shenzhou 5 - .
Crew: Yang Liwei.
Backup Crew: Zhai Zhigang.
Support Crew: Nie Haisheng.
Mass: 7,840 kg (17,280 lb). Nation: China.
Agency: PLAAF.
Manufacturer: CALT.
Class: Manned.
Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Shenzhou 5.
Spacecraft: Shenzhou.
Duration: 0.89 days. Decay Date: 2003-10-16 . USAF Sat Cat: 28043 . COSPAR: 2003-045A. Apogee: 336 km (208 mi). Perigee: 332 km (206 mi). Inclination: 42.42 deg. Period: 91.20 min.
China's first manned spaceflight began with the lift-off of the CZ-2F booster into the clear blue morning sky. All went according to plan and China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, entered an initial 200 km x 343 km orbit ten minutes after launch. The naval vessels standing buy for rescue in the Sea of Japan were called back to port.
The highly conservative mission plan was for Yang to remain in the Shenzhou re-entry capsule for the entire 21-hour mission, and not to enter the orbital module. He had two rest periods of three hours each, and was scheduled to eat once or twice meals of what was said to be a superior form of Chinese space food. Frequent communications sessions, including colour television links to the spacecraft, were made possible by China's four tracking ships deployed in the oceans of the world.
As the spacecraft was in its 21st orbit, the orbital module separated. It would stay in the 343 km orbit for a planned six-month military imaging reconnaissance mission. Retrofire was commanded via a tracking ship in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa. Shenzhou-5 landed only 4.8 km from the aim-point in Inner Mongolia with the parachute being sighted by the ground recovery forces prior to landing. Yang landed after 21 hours 23 minutes aloft.