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Shenzhou () is a Spacecraft from the People's Republic Of China which first carried a Chinese Astronaut into orbit on October 15 , 2003 . Development began in 1992, under the name of Project 921-1. The Chinese National Manned Space Program was given the designation Project 921 with Project 921-1 as its first significant goal. The plan called for a manned launch in October 1999, prior to the new millennium. The first four unmanned test flights in 1999, 2001 and 2002. These were followed with another manned launch on October 12 , 2005 . It is launched on the Long March 2F from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center . The command center of the mission is the Beijing Aerospace Command And Control Center . The name is variously translated as "Divine Craft", "Divine Vessel" or similar, but is also a reference to a literary Name For China with the same pronunciation (神州; literally "Divine Land"). In March 2005, an asteroid was named 8256 Shenzhou in honour of the spacecraft. DESIGN The ''Shenzhou'' spacecraft closely resembles '' Soyuz '', although it is substantially larger and features a powered orbital module capable of autonomous flight. The similarity in design between ''Shenzhou'' and ''Soyuz'' arises from the provision of a ''Soyuz'' descent capsule, minus life-support systems, to the Chinese by Russia in the mid 1990's. Life-support and propulsion systems are therefore indigenous to China, but the basic design is not. The development of manned launch vehicle technology in China is therefore following the Russian model extremely closely and is presently equivalent to Russian capabilities in the mid to late 1970s.1 Like ''Soyuz'', ''Shenzhou'' consists of three modules: a forward Orbital Module (轨道舱), a Reentry Capsule (返回舱) in the middle, and an aft Service Module (推进舱). This division is based on the principle of minimizing the amount of material to be returned to Earth. Anything placed in the orbital or service modules does not require Heat Shielding , and this greatly increases the space available in the spacecraft without increasing weight as much as it would if those modules were also able to withstand Reentry . Thus both ''Soyuz'' and ''Shenzhou'' have more living area with less weight than the ''Apollo'' CSM . Complete Spacecraft Data :Total Mass-kg 7,840 :Length-m 9.25 :Diameter-m 2.80 :Span-m 17.00 Orbital module The Orbital Module (轨道舱) contains space for experiments, crew-serviced or operated equipment, and in-orbit habitation. The reentry vehicle contains seating for the crew, and is the only portion of ''Shenzhou'' which returns to Earth's surface. Its shape is a compromise between maximizing living space while allowing for some aerodynamic control upon reentry. The orbital module is also equipped with its own propulsion, and control systems, allowing autonomous flight. In the future it is possible that the orbital module(s) could also be left behind on the planned Chinese Project 921/2 Space Station as additional station modules. The fact that China has yet to deploy a space station (e.g., something equivalent to ''Salyut '' such as a module that has been re-docked with after deployment) implies an equivalent stage of progress to Russia pre-1970. In the unmanned test flights launched to date, the orbital module of each ''Shenzhou'' was left functioning on orbit for several days after the reentry capsules return, and the '' Shenzhou 5 '' orbital module continued to operate for six months after launch. Significantly, the Docking Adapter in the orbital module is based on the ''Apollo''-''Soyuz'' Test Project adapter and is compatible with both Soviet and American docking adapters. It is therefore technically possible for ''Shenzhou'' to dock with the International Space Station . :Design Life: 200 days. :Length: 2.80 m (9.10 ft). :Basic Diameter: 2.25 m (7.38 ft). :Maximum Diameter: 2.25 m (7.38 ft). :Span: 10.40 m (34.10 ft). :Habitable Volume: 8.00 m3. :Mass: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). :RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 16 x 5 N. :RCS Propellants: Hydrazine. :Electrical System: Solar panels, 12.24 m&2. :Electric System: 0.50 average kW. :Electric System: 1.20 kWh. Re-entry capsule A Reentry Capsule (返回舱) is located in the middle section. Re-entry capsule Data :Crew Size: 3. :Design Life: 20 days. :Length: 2.50 m (8.20 ft). :Basic Diameter: 2.52 m (8.26 ft). :Maximum Diameter: 2.52 m (8.26 ft). :Habitable Volume: 6.00 m3. :Mass: 3,240 kg (7,140 lb). :Heat Shield Mass: 450 kg (990 lb) - this is ablative and mass can likely be reduced in future as analysis of recovered shields is undertaken. :RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 8 x 150 N. :RCS Propellants: Hydrazine Service module The aft Service Module (推进舱) contains life support and other equipment required for the functioning of ''Shenzhou''. Two pairs of Solar Panel s, one pair on the service module, the other pair on the orbital module, have a total area of over 40 m&2 (430 ft&2), indicating average electrical power over 1.5 kW (''Soyuz'' have 1.0 kW). Service module Data :Design Life: 20 days. :Length: 2.94 m (9.65 ft). :Basic Diameter: 2.50 m (8.20 ft). :Maximum Diameter: 2.80 m (9.10 ft). :Span: 17.00 m (55.00 ft). :Mass: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb). :RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 8 x 150 N. :RCS Fine No x Thrust: 16 x 5 N. :RCS Propellants: N2O4/MMH, unified system with main engine. :Main Engine: 4 x 2500 N. :Main Engine Thrust: 10.000 kN (2,248 lbf). :Main Engine Propellants: N2O4/MMH. :Main Engine Propellants: 1,000 kg (2,200 lb). :Main Engine Isp: 290 sec. L/D Hypersonic: 0.30. :Electrical System: Solar panels, 24.48 + 12.24 m&2, 36.72 m&2 total. :Electric System: 1.00 average kW. :Electric System: 2.40 kWh. HISTORY China's first efforts at Human Spaceflight started in 1968 with a projected launch date of 1973. Although China did launch an unmanned satellite in 1970 and has maintained an active unmanned program since, this attempt was canceled due to lack of funds and political interest. The current Chinese human spaceflight program was authorized on April 1 1992 as Project 921/1, with work beginning on January 1 1993 . The initial plan had three phases:
The chief designers include Qi Faren and Wang Yongzhi . The first unmanned flight of the spacecraft was launched on November 19 1999 after which Project 921/1 was renamed '''Shenzhou''', a name reportedly chosen by Jiang Zemin . A series of three additional unmanned flights ensued. The Shenzhou reentry capsules used to date are 13% larger than Soyuz reentry capsules, and it is expected that later craft will be designed to carry a crew of four instead of Soyuz's three, although physical limitations on Astronaut size, as experienced with earlier incarnations of Soyuz, will likely apply. The fifth launch, '' (UTC +8) on October 15 , 2003 . Like similar space programs in other nations, Shenzhou has raised some questions about whether China should spend money on launching people into space, arguing that these resources would be better directed elsewhere. Indeed, two earlier human spaceflight programs, one in the mid-1970s and the other in the 1980s were canceled because of expense. In response, a number of justifications have been offered in the Chinese media. One is that the long term destiny of humanity lies in the exploration of space, and that China should not be left behind. Another is that such a program will catalyze the development of science and technology in China. Finally, it has been argued that the prestige resulting from this capability will increase China's stature in the world, in a similar manner to the 2008 Olympics. On October 17 , 2005 , following the success of Shenzhou 6 , Chinese media officially stated that the cost of this flight was around $110 million USD, and the gross cost of Project 921/1 in the past 11 years was $2.3 billion USD. These values are lower than the cost of similar space programs in other nations, but it should be noted that given the closed nature of the Chinese regime (and semi-military nature of the program) they cannot be verified and are probably under-stated. The true cost is likely comparable to that of other similar programs. The Chinese media has heavily promoted the experiments undertaken by Shenzhou, particularly exposing seeds, including some from Taiwan , to zero gravity and radiation. Most scientists, however, discount the usefulness of this type of experiment - instead relying upon crop modification at the genetic level for future productivity benefits. Media outlets have suggested that there are elements of military motivation (presumably technological in nature) behind China's ability to put astronauts into space, specifically in the areas of reconnaissance and anti-satellite weaponry (as demonstrated by an ASAT test in 2007). On balance it is likely that a significant military dimension does exist in the Chinese space program, in particular due to the highly secretive nature of space research funding within China. The lack of transparency and pattern of little accountability is comparable to that which surrounded the space program of the USSR. However, the state-controlled Chinese media has downplayed possible military motivations although Shenzhou's orbital module, staying in orbit for more than 6 months before falling back to earth and disintegrating, is equipped with a high-resolution observation camera, which could be used for military intelligence purposes. However the experience during the 1960's of both the United States with the Manned Orbiting Laboratory and the Soviet Union with the Almaz space station suggests that the military usefulness of human spaceflight is quite limited and that practically all military uses of space are much more effectively performed by unmanned satellites. Thus while the Shenzhou orbital module could be used for military reconnaissance, from a rational point of view there appears to be no military reason for incorporating such as system in a manned mission, as China could use purely unmanned satellites for these purposes. Yet, the nature of space exploration, with different nations trying successively to achieve the same goals (e.g., the original "space race", current efforts to duplicate GPS and GLONASS with Galileo ), implies that China may well be walking down this route as others have before them. MISSIONS LAUNCHED
PLANNED MISSIONS
This is similar to the process used by the Soviet Union in their early Soyuz program which was intended to test procedures for future Lunar flights. ASTRONAUTS November 1996 trainer selection There were two astronaut trainers selected for Project 921. They trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonauts Training Center in Russia.
January 1998 Shenzhou astronaut candidate selection # Chen Quan # Deng Qingming - from Jiangxi Province and PLAAF pilot; # Fèi Jùnlóng - second Chinese astronaut, commander of Shenzhou 6 , possibly in training for ''' Shenzhou 7 ''' # Jing Haipeng - born October 1966 and PLAAF pilot # Liu Boming - born September 1966 and PLAAF pilot # Liu Wang - born in Shanxi Province and PLAFF pilot # Niè Hǎishèng - flight engineer on Shenzhou 6 , back up in ''' Shenzhou 5 ''', possibly in training for ''' Shenzhou 7 ''' # Pan Zhanchun - PLAAF pilot # Yang Liwei - first man sent into space by the Space Program Of China , and his mission, Shenzhou 5 , made the PRC the third country to independently send people into space, possibly in training for ''' Shenzhou 7 ''' # Zhai Zhigang - back up in Shenzhou 5 # Zhang Xiaoguan - born in Liaoning Province and PLAAF pilot # Zhao Chuandong - PLAAF pilot In July 2007, plans were announced to select up to 14 men for another group of Shenzhou astronaut candidates.2 FILM Following the success of the manned missions Shenzhou 5 and 6, Hong Kong film director Stephen Chow began work on his latest film, '' CJ7 ''. It is a Science Fiction / Comedy film about a man who crashes his spacecraft on another planet. The title of the film is clearly influenced by the Shenzhou missions, as were former Working Title s ''Yangtze River VII'' and ''Long River 7''. SEE ALSO
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