China Archives

September 27, 2008December 24, 2015 by Ian O'Neill

China’s First Spacewalk a Success (Video)

Zhai Zhigang exits the Shenzhou-7 capsule with Earth overhead (Xinhua/BBC)

[/caption]It’s official, China has become the third nation to successfully carry out a spacewalk in Earth orbit. Fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang was the first to exit the Shenzhou-7 module at 16:30 Beijing Time (08:30 GMT), as the Chinese space agency streamed live video of the event. Zhai lifted himself through the hatch and waved at the camera attached to the service module on the outside of the craft, with Earth looming overhead. Shortly after, crew mate Liu Boming emerged to hand Zhai a small Chinese flag which he waved enthusiastically. The extra-vehicular activity (EVA) lasted for about 15 minutes. At the start of the EVA, Zhai said, “I’m feeling quite well. I greet the Chinese people and the people of the world.”

Shenzhou-7 was launched by a Long March II-F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province of China on Thursday, carrying Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng into space on the three-day mission. The principal objective was to successfully complete a spacewalk, paving the way for a Chinese orbital outpost and eventual mission to the Moon within the decade. It would appear the mission was a success, allowing China into an exclusive club of only three nations ever to have carried out orbital activities in a space suit.

Watch China’s first ever space walk »

Zhai and Liu wore a Chinese-designed spacesuit called “Feitian” (which literally translates as “Fly in the Sky”), thought to cost between £5m and £20m ($10m-$40m) apiece. The third taikonaut (or “yuhangyuan”) Jing Haipeng, remained inside Shenzhou-7 wearing a Russian-made Orlan suit.

Whilst outside the craft, attached via an umbilical cable, Zhai retrieved a test sample of solid lubricant attached to the outside of the module before they were launched. He passed the sample to Liu. Once the handover was complete, 16 minutes into the EVA, both men re-entered the capsule.

Zhai, now China’s first man to ever carry out an EVA in Earth orbit, will celebrate his 42nd birthday next month. Prior to enrolling in China’s manned space programme, he was an air force pilot, and before then the official Chinese news agency was keen to highlight that Zhai “grew up in dirt-poor hardship with five siblings in the country’s far northeast,” and he “dreamed of flying into space when he was an impoverished teenager.”

This is an amazing achievement that will only boost the space-faring confidence of the Chinese. Perhaps the first Chinese Moon base isn’t that far off after all…

Sources: BBC, Xinhua

September 25, 2008December 24, 2015 by Nancy Atkinson

China Launches Manned Spacecraft

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China successfully launched its third manned spacecraft today with three astronauts on board. During the mission, they will attempt the country’s first-ever space walk. The Long March II-F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province at 9:10 p.m. local time. Onboard pilots Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng are will orbit Earth for three days. The astronauts, called taikonauts, told the ground control center that they felt “physically sound” in the first few minutes of the flight.

Two of the taikonauts will conduct a spacewalk, wearing Chinese-made spacesuits called Feitian which literally means flying in the sky, and is the name of a legendary Buddhist goddess. They will retrieve test samples loaded on the outside of the spacecraft, said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the country’s manned space project.

“We wish we could fly freely in space just like Feitian on the ancient Buddhist murals, so we gave this name to the homemade spacesuit,” said Zhou.

Chinese taikonauts inside Shenzou 7. Credit: Xinhuanet

The third taikonaut will remain inside the pressurized spacecraft, and will wear a Russian Orlan suit.

Other tasks of the Shenzhou-7 crew include the release of a small monitoring satellite and a trial of the data relay of the satellite Tianlian-I.

If successful, the mission would be of great significance to the country’s future plans to build a space lab and a space station, said Zhang Jianqi, deputy chief commander of the manned space project. “China pursues the principle of making peaceful use of space in its exploration and development,” Zhang said, adding the country was willing to carry out various forms of international cooperation in space exploration.

The taikonauts, all 42 years old, are scheduled to land in the central region of north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in a re-entry module after their mission is completed

Source: Xinhuanet

September 10, 2008December 24, 2015 by Nancy Atkinson

China To Launch Manned Mission This Month

China's Long March rocket. Credit: Xinhua

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China will launch its third manned space mission in late September, sending three astronauts into Earth orbit. The mission will feature China’s first-ever space walk, according to the Xinhua News Agency, the official news agency of China. The Shenzhou 7 launch will take place sometime between Sept. 25 and 30, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern Gansu province. The space walk will be broadcast live using cameras mounted on the inside and outside of the spacecraft.

The Long March rocket was loaded with fuel on Sunday. “All the major systems involved in the launching are now in the final preparation. The main tests for the spacecraft, the Long-March II-F rocket, suits for the space walk and a satellite accompanying the fly have also been finished,” said the spokesman.

On April 12, China launched a new space tracking satellite to assist with the Shenzhou-7 spacewalk mission. The new space tracking ship is the sister ship of the Yuanwang-5, which was put into use a year ago. Xinhua said the two vessels will play a key role in the Shenzhou-7 mission.

In 2003, China became the third country in the world â€” along with the United States and Russia â€” to send a human into orbit. It followed with a two-man mission in 2005.

China also launched the Chang’e 1 moon orbiter in October of 2007.

Source: Xinhua

August 12, 2008December 24, 2015 by Ian O'Neill

The Chinese “Weather Manipulation Missile” Olympics

Chinese weather control rocket blasts off (Source: ImpactLab.com)

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One thing is for certain, the Chinese cannot be accused of being subtle when it comes to insuring good weather for the biggest party on Earth. Sounding like a military operation, the Chinese government authorized the use of 1,104 cloud seeding missile launches from 4:00-11:39pm on Friday night to remove the threat of rain ahead of the 29th Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing. This was the first time the weather manipulation technique was used during any Olympic event in the history of the games. This summer period can be a very wet season for Beijing and officials have been concerned their moment of huge national pride would be a wash-out. But it would appear the 21 rain dispersal launch sites kept nature at bay and made sure the celebration fireworks didn’t get soggy…

Although cloud seeding remains a hugely controversial practice, both China and Russia are large-scale advocates of various delivery systems. In June, it was reported that during a Russian Air Force cloud seeding operation, a chunk of cement fell from the sky, making a hole in someone’s roof. Although this incident was quite entertaining (not, however, to the owner who vowed to sue the Kremlin), there are some very big local climate concerns associated with cloud seeding. Scientists have pointed out that weather manipulation can amplify drought conditions in one area or increase the risk of floods in another. It is an unpredictable practice at best, and often considered to be highly unreliable. However, the Chinese and Russian governments continue to seed clouds, in an attempt to disperse rain ahead of public holidays and events.

Chinese meteorologists claim that the weather manipulation rockets were highly effective ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, keeping the skies clear and audience dry inside the main Olympic National Stadium (a.k.a. “The Birds Nest”).

“We fired a total of 1,104 rain dispersal rockets from 21 sites in the city between 4 p.m. and 11:39 p.m. on Friday, which successfully intercepted a stretch of rain belt from moving towards the stadium” – Guo Hu, Beijing Municipal Meteorological Bureau (BMB).

According to Xinhua news, Chinese meteorologists decided cloud seeding was the only option as the humidity was rising toward 90% and rain clouds had been tracked since 7:20am approaching the Chinese capital city. Under these conditions, scientists felt for certain rain would pour over the opening ceremony. “Under such a weather condition, a small bubble in the rain cloud would have triggered rainfall, let alone a lightening,” said Guo, presumably indicating that any slight instability in the atmosphere may have caused a storm.

Sounding more like a terror threat than a rain warning, the Beijing Municipal Meteorological Bureau issued a “Yellow Alert” (the third highest) for a thunderstorm at 9:35pm, with heavy rain hitting downtown Beijing soon after. According to officials, at 10:42pm, the clouds had been dispersed and the opening ceremony remained storm-free. They also stated that other areas surrounding Beijing recorded heavy rain, possibly indicating that the focused cloud seeding campaign worked.

Source: Xinhua

May 27, 2008December 24, 2015 by Ian O'Neill

China Launches Second Olympic Satellite; Will Help Earthquake Zone

Fengyun-3 launched on a Long March-4C rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the Shanxi province (chinanews.com)

China is stepping up its preparations for this year’s Olympics to be held in the Chinese capital, Beijing. Concern is growing for the start of the games this summer as early August is known to be a wet period in the region. More advanced weather satellites are therefore being sent into orbit to aid the forecasting effort. This is good timing for improved weather satellite technology as the earthquake-striken Sichuan province recovery effort has been hampered by poor weather conditions. Aid and search operations will greatly benefit from better weather forecasting…

At 11:02 Beijing Time (03:02 GMT) today, one of the most advanced weather satellites to be sent into space by China was launched from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province. The satellite, called Fengyun-3, was launched by a Long March-4C carrier rocket. The ascent took 27 minutes from launch to orbital insertion.

This is the next generation in weather satellite technology for the nation. Fengyun-3 is carrying three-dimensional sensors that will measure the dynamics in the Earth’s atmosphere and climate. It will also monitor Polar Regions and ocean conditions. The sensors can measure temperature changes of 0.1F and has a spatial resolution of 250 meters (0.15 miles). This is a vast improvement on the resolution of its predecessors of only 1 kilometer (0.62 miles).

“The 250-m resolution images will be of vital significance for censoring global climate changes and possible subsequent natural disasters.” – Gao Huoshan, general director of the FY-3 research team.

Gao also describes Fengyun-3 as a key contributor to acquiring geographical data for aviation, navigation, agriculture, forestry and oceanography research. This impressive 2,295 kg (5,060 lb) satellite will be used extensively to aid weather predictions for the Olympics and will help disaster zones (such as the recent sequence of major earthquakes in the Sichuan province).

This is another Chinese success in space as the proud nation pushes for more development of homemade satellite technology. Since US rules barred the export of satellite components to China, there is a sense of urgency to develop their own direction in space. US rules do not seem to be restricting Chinese aspirations in space, China is planning for a manned Moon mission to launch soon after 2017.

Sources: China Daily, Physorg.com

January 8, 2008December 26, 2015 by Nancy Atkinson

China Plans for Big Year in Space

China is hoping to launch 15 rockets, 17 satellites and its third manned mission in 2008. This is an ambitious manifest for any country, and it appears China hopes to take its global emergence to new heights in a year in which it will also host the summer Olympics.

No details were provided regarding specific dates or the types of unmanned missions that will be launched this year. The secretary-general of the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defence, Huang Qiang, revealed the planned launches at a news conference on January 7, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

However, Chinese media reported earlier that the China National Space Administration plans to launch its third manned mission, Shenzhou VII sometime in October, and reportedly the mission will include a space walk. In 2003, China became only the third country to put a human into space using its own rocket, following the former Soviet Union and the United States, and in 2005 the Shenzhou VI rocket sent two Chinese astronauts on a five-day flight.

Xinhua quoted Huang as saying the Shenzhou VII was a major task for the year and called for full cooperation between all departments involved.

China successfully launched its first lunar probe, Chang’e 1 in October 2007. The spacecraft is now successfully in lunar orbit and it returned its first images of the lunar surface in late November 2007. Chang’e 1 is also obtaining 3-D pictures of the moon and mapping surface elements. This was the beginning of their “step by step” program of exploring the moon. China hopes to deploy a lunar lander for surface exploration of the moon in 2012, and attempt a lunar sample return mission in 2017.

China will also mount a joint effort with Russia to explore Mars in 2009.

Original News Source: Reuters

November 7, 2007December 26, 2015 by Fraser Cain

Is China Building a Space Station?

There are mixed reports coming out of China on their plans to loft a space station by 2020. A Chinese aerospace engineer, Long Lehao, mentioned to journalists that the China National Space Administration was planning to build a “small-scale 20 tonne space workshop”. But then space officials at the agency denied the report. So what’s going on?

The Chinese official new agency Xinhua reported that Li Guoping, a spokesman for the agency said, “China at present has not decided on developing a space station.” That sounds like the possibility is still open, in my opinion.

China has mentioned in the past that they’d like to launch a space station of their own, some time in the next 10 to 15 years. But they never pinned down a specific date, like the 2020 goal announced by Long Lehao. If the agency does have a firm date, Lehao would know. He’s a leading designer for the Long March 3A, the rocket that carried China’s Chang’e-1 lunar satellite into space.

And speaking of Chang’e-1, this contradicting news arrives just as the spacecraft has entered lunar orbit. After a two-week journey to the Moon, the spacecraft performed an orbiting maneuver so perfectly that the agency thinks they’ve saved a bunch of fuel. This fuel should allow the spacecraft to orbit the Moon for longer, delaying the inevitable date when it crashes down.

The first photos from Chang’e-1 should arrive later this month. And by early next year, the probe will have measured the entire surface of the Moon at least once.

And just in case you’re hoping the spacecraft will be able to image the Apollo astronaut footprints, sorry, it doesn’t have the resolution. But I’ll bet it’ll be able to see the landers.

Original Source: Xinhua Article

November 5, 2007December 26, 2015 by Fraser Cain

Chang’e-1 Enters Lunar Orbit

Chinese space officials announced that their Chang’e-1 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on Monday, completing a new milestone in the country’s goals of space exploration. The spacecraft is scheduled to begin scanning the lunar surface on Wednesday, but first, it has to complete two additional braking maneuvers.

Mission controllers gave the command at 11:15 local time from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) for Chang’e-1 to make its braking maneuver – when it was 300 km from the Moon. It completed the maneuver 22 minutes later, entering a true circumlunar orbit.

This braking maneuver was critical. If it braked too early, the probe wouldn’t have been captured by the Moon’s gravity, and it would have drifted off into space. If it braked too late, it would have just crashed onto the lunar surface.

The spacecraft’s speed was slowed from 2.3 km/second to 1.9 km/second. It’s now traveling in a 12-hour elliptical orbit around the Moon, getting as close as 200 km above the surface, and then swinging out to 8,600 km.

Two more braking maneuvers are planned to lower its orbit; one on November 6th, and another on the 7th. When it’s all said and done, Chang’e-1 will be going a mere 1.59 km/second, in a 127-minute orbit. It will then begin its science operations.

If all goes well, Chang’e-1 will provide detailed images and data on the lunar surface. China has announced their plans to send a robotic lander to the Moon by 2012 years, and humans within 15 years.

It should remain in lunar orbit for about a year.

Original Source: Xinhua News Release

October 24, 2007December 26, 2015 by Fraser Cain

Chinese Moon Mission Blasts Off

The Moon had been lonely for a while, but now there’s no shortage of spacecraft on the way. The latest visitor, China’s Chang’e-1, blasted off today from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, Sichuan, atop a Long March 3A rocket. Although this spacecraft is just a lunar orbiter, it begins the country’s journey to putting a lander down on the surface of the Moon before 2020.

Just like the Japanese spacecraft already orbiting the Moon, and the upcoming US Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, this Chinese spacecraft will studying the Moon in detail.

It has four major objectives: to map the Moon’s surface in 3-D, to analyze the abundance of 14 chemical elements, to measure the depth of the lunar soil (or regolith), and to study the space weather between the Earth and the Moon.

The ambitious spacecraft weighs in at 2,350 kg, and will transition to a low, circular lunar orbit, skimming just 200 km above the surface. It’s expected to begin its Earth-Moon transfer burn on October 31st, and arrive in lunar orbit on November 5th. It’s expected that Chang’e-1 will take its first images on the Moon in late November, and continue scientific observations for a year.

Original Source: ESA News Release

October 14, 2003June 3, 2013 by Fraser Cain

Chinese Launch is a Success

China joined an elite club of spacefarers on Wednesday with the launch of the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft from the Jiuquan desert launch site. At precisely 9:00am local time (0100 GMT), a Long March 2 rocket blasted into the sky carrying astronaut Yang Liwei into orbit – and into the history books.

Liwei reached space 10 minutes after launch, and is set to orbit the Earth 14 times over the course of 21 hours. He’ll then de-orbit on Thursday, re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and make a parachute landing in the Gobi desert. Just like the previous four passengerless Shenzhou spacecraft have done.

Only the United States and Russia have launched humans into space before today.

Liwei Chosen from Fourteen
China’s first man into space, Yang Liwei, is a 38-year old lieutenant in the People’s Liberation Army. He hails from Louzhong County in Liaoning province, an industrial area in northeast China. He’s the son of a teacher and an official at an agricultural firm.

Liwei was chosen from 14 astronauts who had been training for several years for this mission. Then three candidates were chosen to prepare for an actual launch. Officials said they’d be selecting their astronaut based on physical condition on the day of the launch – lucky Liwei.

Although the Shenzhou can carry three astronauts, only one was chosen for today’s flight.

Almost a Secret
The Chinese space program is renowned for its secrecy. Until today’s launch, space officials had kept everyone in the dark; announcing the launch of the previous Shenzhou spacecraft only after they’d successfully made it to orbit.

With Shenzhou 5, however, insiders and media were predicting an October 15 launch. Officials finally admitted last week that it was indeed their chosen date; to give government officials time to attend the launch. It’s believed that President Hu Jintao and his predecessor Jiang Zemin were there to watch Liwei blast off.

State officials were originally planning to broadcast the launch live on television, but they decided against it at the last minute to manage publicity in case of an accident.

NASA was one of the first groups to publicly congratulate the new spacefarers. NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe said, “the Chinese people have a long and distinguished history of exploration. NASA wishes China a continued safe human space flight program.”