:Shenzhou 8
{{short description|2011 Chinese uncrewed spaceflight to Tiangong-1}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Shenzhou 8
| image = Tiangong 1 drawing.png
| image_caption = Diagram of Shenzhou 8 (right)
docked with Tiangong-1 (left)
| insignia =
| mission_type = Test flight
| operator =
| COSPAR_ID = 2011-063A
| SATCAT = 37859
| mission_duration = 18 days
| spacecraft_type = Shenzhou
| manufacturer =
| launch_mass =
| landing_mass =
| launch_date = 31 October 2011, 21:58:10.430 UTC
| launch_rocket = Long March 2F
| launch_site = Jiuquan, LA-4/SLS-1
| launch_contractor = China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)
| landing_date = 17 November 2011, 11:32 UTC
| landing_site = Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Low Earth orbit
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination = 51.37°
| orbit_period =
| apsis = gee
| docking =
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = Tiangong-1
| docking_type = dock
| docking_date = 2 November 2011, 17:28 UTC
| undocking_date =
| time_docked =
}}
{{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
| docking_target = Tiangong-1
| docking_type = dock
| docking_date = 14 November 2011, 12:07 UTC
| undocking_date = 16 November 2011, 10:30 UTC
| time_docked = 1 day, 22 hours, 23 minutes
}}
| programme = Shenzhou program
| previous_mission = Shenzhou 7
| next_mission = Shenzhou 9
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
|showflag = stp
|c = 神舟八号
|p = Shénzhōu Bāhào
|mi = {{IPAc-cmn|sh|en|2|zh|ou|1|-|b|a|1|h|ao|4}}
|w = Shenchao pahao
|j = San4zau1 baat3hou6
|y = Shenjou bahau
|ci = {{IPA|yue|sɐ̏ntsɐ̄u pāːthɐ̀u|}}
|gr = Shernjou bahaw
}}
Shenzhou 8 ({{zh|c=神舟八号}}) was an uncrewed flight of China's Shenzhou program,{{cite web|last=David|first=Leonard|title=China Details Ambitious Space Station Goals|url=http://www.space.com/11048-china-space-station-plans-details.html|website=Space.com|date=2011-03-07|access-date=2011-03-11}} launched on 31 October 2011 UTC, or 1 November 2011 in China, by a Long March 2F rocket which lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The Shenzhou 8 spacecraft was automatically docked with the Tiangong-1 space module (launched on 29 September 2011) on 3 November 2011 and again on 14 November 2011.{{Cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike |url=https://www.space.com/13477-china-space-docking-success-shenzhou8-tiangong1.html|title=China Succeeds in First Space Docking by 2 Spaceships|work=Space.com|date=2011-11-02|access-date=2021-08-12}} This uncrewed docking – China's first – was followed in 2012 with the crewed Shenzhou 9 mission, which performed a crewed docking (also China's first) with the Tiangong-1 module.{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1105/12tiangong/ |title=Docking, extended space missions up next for China|website=Spaceflight Now|date=2011-05-12 |access-date=2011-05-13}} Only the Soviet Union (Russia), JapanETS-VII and the European Space Agency (ESA) had achieved automatic rendezvous and docking prior to China's accomplishment.
History
On 29 September 2008, Zhang Jianqi ({{lang|zh|张建启}}), vice director of China crewed space engineering, announced in an interview of China Central Television (CCTV){{cite web |url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-09-29/145316381853.shtml|title=我国将于2010年-2011年发射小型空间站|trans-title=China will launch a small space station in 2010–2011 |website=Sina News|date=2008-09-29|access-date=2021-08-12|language=zh}} that Tiangong-1, an 8-ton "target vehicle", would be launched in 2010 (now 2011), and that Shenzhou 8, Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10 were all intended to dock with it. On 1 October 2008, Shanghai Space Administration, which participated in the development of Shenzhou 8, stated that they have succeeded in the simulated experiments for the docking of Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou 8.{{cite web|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2008-10-01/170014521590s.shtml |title=神八空间模拟对接初步成功|trans-title=Simulated docking of Shenzhou 8 has succeeded |website=Sina News|date=2008-10-01|access-date=2021-08-12|language=zh}}
In February 2009, the launch of Shenzhou 8 was planned for early 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20090301-china-plans-launch-space-station-2010-|title=China plans to launch space station in 2010|work=France 24|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=2009-03-01|access-date=2021-08-12}} By March 2011, the launch had been postponed until in October 2011.
Shenzhou 8 was launched at 21:58 UTC on 31 October 2011 (UTC) (1 November in China) by a Long March 2F rocket. The launch lifted off from 921/SLS-1 Launch Pad at the Southern Launch Site of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The uncrewed Shenzhou 8 mission successfully docked with Tiangong-1 on 2 November 2011 (UTC), marking China's first orbital docking.{{cite news|last=Amos|first=Jonathan |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15562928 |title=Chinese spacecraft dock in orbit |work=BBC News|date=2011-11-02|access-date=2021-08-12}} Shenzhou 8 undocked from Tiangong-1 on 14 November 2011, before successfully completing a second rendezvous and docking, so as to test the reusability of the docking system.{{cite news|editor-last=Mo|editor-first=Hong'e |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/video/2011-11/07/c_131233226.htm |title=2nd docking of Tiangong-1 & Shenzhou-8 on schedule |work=Xinhua News Agency |agency=CNTV|date=7 November 2011|access-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110071948/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/video/2011-11/07/c_131233226.htm|archive-date=2011-11-10}}{{cite news|editor-last=Wang|editor-first=Guanqun |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-11/14/c_131246339.htm |title=Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou-8 disengages from space lab module Tiangong-1|work=Xinhua News Agency|date=14 November 2011|access-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117010729/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2011-11/14/c_131246339.htm|archive-date=2011-11-17}}{{cite news|url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_completes_second_space_docking_999.html |title=China completes second space docking |work=Space Daily |agency=Agence France-Presse|date=2011-11-14|access-date=2021-08-12}} Shenzhou 8 deorbited on 17 November 2011, and landed safely in Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia.{{cite web|last=Bodeen|first=Christopher |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/shenzhou-8-docking-mission-china_n_1101191.html |title=Shenzhou 8 Docking Mission Major Step To Space Station, China Says |website=The Huffington Post|date=18 November 2011|access-date=12 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121061401/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/shenzhou-8-docking-mission-china_n_1101191.html|archive-date=2011-11-21}}
Mission
Shenzhou 8 features an active APAS-like docking module in place of the usual orbital module, and performed its docking operation automatically under ground control.{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/china/shenzhou8/111102dockingsystem/|title=Chinese docking system based on Russian design|website=Spaceflight Now|date=2011-11-02|access-date=2011-11-17}} Docking took place on 2 November 2011 at 17:28 UTC, during orbital darkness to avoid interference from the Sun's glare with sensitive navigation and rendezvous equipment.{{cite web |last=Clark|first=Stephen|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/china/shenzhou8/111102docking/|title=Successful docking catapults China into elite space club|website=Spaceflight Now|date=2011-11-02|access-date=2011-11-17}} After 12 days being docked, Shenzhou 8 undocked and a second docking took place, this time in full sunlight.{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/china/shenzhou8/111114docking/|title=Shenzhou 8 aces second docking test in sunlight|website=Spaceflight Now|date=2011-11-14|access-date=2011-11-17}} The separation, second rendezvous, and docking occurred on 14 November 2011 and was aimed to test accuracy and reliability of equipment and sensors in a bright environment.{{Cite news|url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Second_Tiangong_1_And_Shenzhou_8_docking_to_face_light_interference_999.html|title=Second Tiangong-1 And Shenzhou-8 docking to face light interference|work=Space Daily|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=2011-11-11|access-date=2021-08-12}} On 17 November 2011, the capsule was autonomously de-orbited.{{cite web|last=Barbosa|first=Rui C.|title=China successfully launches Shenzhou-8 via Long March 2F|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/10/china-launches-shenzhou-8-via-long-march-2f/|website=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=2011-10-31|access-date=2011-11-03}}
The mission also featured a biological sample supplied by Germany and the European Space Agency (ESA), which was cited as an example of "international cooperation in the field of manned space" by Zhang Jianqi, deputy chief commander of the China Manned Space Program.{{cite news|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_Shenzhou_8_Spacecraft_To_Carry_Bio_Sample_For_ESA_999.html|title=China's Shenzhou-8 Spacecraft To Carry Bio Sample For ESA|work=Space Daily|agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=2009-03-09|access-date=2010-12-10}}
Spacecraft design
According to Zhang Bainan, the chief designer of China's spacecraft systems, Shenzhou 8 was the last to see significant modifications from previous models. Future flights will use the same spacecraft design, which is intended for production of multiple units of the same design.{{cite news|url=http://en.people.cn/200510/13/eng20051013_214165.html|title=Shenzhou-8 to be fixed version of China-made space vessels: expert|work=People's Daily |agency=Xinhua News Agency|date=2005-10-13|access-date=2010-12-10}}{{cite web|last=Covault|first=Craig |url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0903/02chinastation/|title=China readies military space station – launch coincides with shuttle phaseout|website=Spaceflight Now|date=2009-03-02|access-date=2010-12-10}}
See also
{{Portal|Solar system|Spaceflight|China}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
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{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.china.org.cn/china/shenzhouVII_spacewalk/2008-09/28/content_16552467.htm |title=Preliminary Shenzhou VIII spacecraft in ground tests|website=China Internet Information Center|date=28 September 2008}}
- {{cite news|url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/China_Might_Be_Planning_Early_Space_Station_Attempt.html |title=China Might Be Planning Early Space Station Attempt|work=Space Daily|date=19 February 2006}}
{{refend}}
{{Shenzhou program|before=Shenzhou 7|after=Shenzhou 9}}
{{Orbital launches in 2011}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shenzhou 08}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2011