Shenzhou 7 (traditional Chinese: 神舟七號; simplified Chinese: 神舟七号; pinyin: shén zhōu qī hào) will be the third Chinese human spaceflight. This mission will start the second phase of Project 921.
The mission will use the Shenzhou spacecraft and is expected to be launched in October 2008 on a Long March-2F (CZ-2F) launch vehicle.[2] The mission is scheduled to last 3 to 5 days.[3] The spacecraft has already been flown to Jiuquan. [4][5] The CZ-2F carrier rocket has been assembled and is ready to be sent to the launch center. [6]
New breakthroughs
China's first three astronauts mission
Among the highlights of the mission will be the first three-man crew of a Chinese spacecraft.[7] A total of six astronauts have currently been trained, three for conducting the mission and three others as a backup. The crew of the flight has not been announced. Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, the first three indigenously launched Chinese people, are all in training for the flight. According to Yang, they could possibly be chosen.[8]
China's first EVA spacesuits
New spacesuits for the extra vehicular activity (舱外航天服) will be used, made with "advanced synthetics."[9] June, 2007, reports in Chinese media indicated that 300 square meters of spacesuit material, with "characteristics such as fire and radiation resistance that meet spacewalk requirements", had been made.[10] The suit is designed for a spacewalk mission of up to seven hours.[9] The suits will provide a breathable atmosphere and also allow the venting of astronaut wastes.[9] The price of each suit is reported to exceed 160 millions RMB. [11] First pictures of the spacesuits have been published in the Chinese media. Although China has already imported the Russian Orlan-M Haiying (海鹰号航天服), for interface compatibility with the spacecraft and liability in case of unexpected outcomes reasons, the indigenously developed Chinese-made Feitian space suit (飞天号航天服) will be used for the EVA. The second astronaut remaining in the Orbital module should wear the Orlan-M spacesuit. [12][13][14][15] Early reports indicated that the spacewalk would use suits with small propulsion units.[10] But it is clear now that this technology has only been developed on American suits and neither used in the Chinese-made nor the Russian-made ones. The astronauts had been training with space suits since July 2007. Movements are seriously restricted in the suits as each weighs more than 110 kilograms.[16]
October 2006 reports quote Sun Laiyan, head of CNSA as saying that "our foremost concern is safety and reliability."[17] Later, November 2007, reports quote China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) researcher Pang Zhihao that the spacewalk suits have a belt and tether to the orbital module. The tether will "conduct communications and provide oxygen".[18] The belt and tether combination are considered "safer" than alternatives.[19]
Nonetheless, the first spacewalk will use second generation EVA suits without the need of any tether. [20]
First use of a small monitoring satellite
A hand launched small monitoring satellite (“伴星”) will be released. The CCD stereo camera (CCD立体相机) is similar to the one aboard Chang'e 1. This will provide 3D images of the spacecraft and spacewalking astronaut. [21]
China's first EVA spacewalk mission
The mission will conduct the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity (舱外活动). Two astronauts will enter the orbital module wearing EVA suits,[22] but only one of them will actually spacewalk (出舱行走者) and conduct scientific experiments, while the second one (轨道舱内接应者) will carefully monitor him from the Orbital module. [11] In case of emergency, the second astronaut should provide help to the spacewalking astronaut. [23][24][25] The third astronaut will remain in the pressurised Return module. The spacewalking astronaut will perform tasks such as installing equipment and "tightening screws".
The total duration of this first space walk should last less than one hour once outside the Orbital module. [26]
China's first water training pool
Pictures of a large pool filled with water containing the entire Shenzhou spacecraft used for the EVA training have been published in the Chinese media.[27][28][29]
China's first extraterrestrial Communist Party branch
According to Yang Liwei, the crew members may convene an extraterrestrial orbital Communist Party of China (CPC) branch.[30] A remote locality with three or more Chinese Communist Party (CPC) members, such as a Shenzhou capsule with a full complement aboard, may conduct the business of a CPC branch.[30]
Other modifications and additions
Modifications of the CZ-2F carrier rocket
Special attention has been given to solve vibration problems encountered at the 120 seconds of the Shenzhou-5 mission, vibrations described by Yang Liwei as hard to endure. First corrective mesures have already been implemented for the Shenzhou-6 mission but further improvements have been added to the carrier rocket, and to the pipes of the second stage. More than thirty other modifications have also been added. Finaly, the entire flight will be broadcasted due to the addition of one more camera. [6]
Modifications of the spacecraft
The Orbital module will be modified and its solar panels removed in order to allow the EVA experiment. For this same reason, contrary to previous Shenzhou missions, it will not remain in space after its separation with the departing crew in the Return module. [31] Handrails have been added to the external wall of the Orbital module to allow the space walking astronaut to reach specific experiment areas. [23]
More cameras will be installed on the spacecraft than on the Shenzhou 6 vessel, in addition to those covering the Orbital module and the Return module. [11]
Data relay satellite
China launched its first ever data relay satellite (数据中继卫星) Tianlian I (天链一号) from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on a Long March-3C carrier rocket on April 25, 2008. Specially developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation to increase the communication time between the Shenzhou VII spaceship and the ground, it will also improve the amount of data that can be transferred. The Tianlian I satellite alone can cover 50 percent of the orbit of Shenzhou 7 while the Yuanwang space tracking ships along with China's over ten ground observation stations have a coverage of only 12 percent, thus increasing the total coverage to about 60 percent.[32]
New space tracking ships
Two new Yuanwang-class space tracking ships, Yuanwang-5 and Yuanwang-6 recently commisioned will play a key role in the Shenzhou 7 mission.[33]
See also
References
- ^ 神七预计明年10月发射 将电视直播太空行走
- ^ "China manned mission to follow Olympics" (2006-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-11-20.
- ^ ""神七""神九"将太空对接 "神七"准备工作顺利". 龙虎新闻中心 (March 4, 2008). Retrieved on May 1, 2008.
- ^ "【视频】神舟七号飞船运抵中国酒泉卫星发射中心". 中国中央电视台 (2008-07-10). Retrieved on 2008-07-12.
- ^ "神舟七号飞船运抵酒泉 任务进入全面实施阶段". 人民网 (2008-07-11). Retrieved on 2008-07-11.
- ^ a b ""神七"运载火箭完成总装和出厂测试 今将出征". 中国新闻网 (2008-07-19). Retrieved on 2008-07-19.
- ^ "神舟七号出舱图". 虚幻军事天空 (April 29, 2008). Retrieved on April 29, 2008.
- ^ "China Proceeding With Assembly Shenzhou 7 Spacecraft" (2006-11-03). Retrieved on 2006-11-05.
- ^ a b c "China's astronaut outfitters design material for spacewalk suits". Xinhua (June 1, 2007). Retrieved on December 2, 2007.
- ^ a b Xhinhua News Agency (June 1, 2007). "Astronaut Outfitters Design Material for Spacewalk Suits".
- ^ a b c "“神七”太空服每件造价1.6亿 将实现太空行走". 新华网 (September 21, 2006). Retrieved on July 13, 2008.
- ^ "神七准备中俄产两套航天服 出舱者穿国产航天服". 搜狐 (July 22, 2008). Retrieved on July 22, 2008.
- ^ "航天专家：“神七”出舱服可能采用“中国制造”". Xinhua (April 10, 2007). Retrieved on April 15, 2008.
- ^ "我们的仓外宇航服暴光了". 虚幻军事天空 (March 9, 2008). Retrieved on April 24, 2008.
- ^ "偶们宇航员进行水池训练的视频截图". 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 24, 2008.
- ^ "Chinese astronauts begin training for spacewalk". People Daily Online (July 18, 2007). Retrieved on August 1, 2007.
- ^ quotations attributed to Sun Laiyan, head of China National Space Administration (CNSA)Xinhua News Agency (October 26, 2006). "Shenzhou VII Development Progressing Apace". Retrieved on December 2, 2007.
- ^ quotation attributed to Pang Zhihao, China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) Winny Wang (November 21, 2007). "Manned space launch set for next October". ShanghaiDaily.com.
- ^ quotation: Pang Zhihao, CAST "3rd Manned Spaceship to Blast Off after Olympics". BeijingReview.com (November 21, 2007). Retrieved on December 2, 2007.
- ^ "“神七”总指挥：航天员出舱行走不系带". 人 民 网 (July 2, 2008). Retrieved on July 2, 2008.
- ^ "外媒报道：中国首次太空行走拉开了序幕(图)". 湖北楚天传媒网 (June 27, 2008). Retrieved on July 5, 2008.
- ^ "神七将于10月择机发射 1名航天员太空行走". 新华网 (June 12, 2008). Retrieved on June 12, 2008.
- ^ a b "神七准备中俄产两套航天服 出舱将穿国产服". 人民网 (July 23, 2008). Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "神七将于10月择机发射 1名航天员太空行走". 新华网 (June 12, 2008). Retrieved on June 12, 2008.
- ^ "视频:神七飞行10月择机实施 1名航天员将太空行走". 中国中央电视台 (June 12, 2008). Retrieved on June 17, 2008.
- ^ "神七航天员将出舱行走近1小时 释放小卫星". 人民网 (June 13, 2008). Retrieved on June 17, 2008.
- ^ "舱外服". 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
- ^ "CCTV公开中国供航天员太空出舱训练用的巨型水池（一）". 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
- ^ "CCTV公开中国供航天员太空出舱训练用的巨型水池（二）". 虚幻军事天空 (April 24, 2008). Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
- ^ a b "Taikonauts may build Communist Party branch in space". Xinhua News Agency (October 18, 2007).
- ^ "神八2010年首飞 运载火箭将有重大变化(组图)". 凤凰资讯 (June 26, 2008). Retrieved on July 8, 2008.
- ^ "我国首颗中继卫星发射成功 将测控神七飞行". 人民网 (April 26, 2008). Retrieved on April 27, 2008.
- ^ "我国新一代航天远洋测量船完成海上设备精度鉴定". 中国政府网 (July 10, 2007). Retrieved on July 11, 2008.
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