Banxing
{{Short description|Chinese technology development satellite}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Banxing
| image = Small satellite with shenzhou7(ahead).JPG
| image_caption = Small satellite with shenzhou 7 (model）
| mission_type = Spacecraft imaging
Technology
| operator = CASC
| website =
| COSPAR_ID = 2008-047G
| SATCAT =
| mission_duration =
| spacecraft_bus =
| manufacturer =
| dry_mass =
| launch_mass = {{convert|40|kg|lb}}
| power =
| launch_date = {{start-date|25 September 2008, 13:10|timezone=yes}} UTC
| launch_rocket = Chang Zheng 2F
| launch_site = Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1
| launch_contractor =
| deployment_from = Shenzhou 7
| deployment_date = 27 September 2008, 11:27 UTC
| last_contact =
| decay_date =
| orbit_epoch =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric
| orbit_regime = Low Earth
| orbit_periapsis =
| orbit_apoapsis =
| orbit_inclination = 42.4 degrees
| orbit_period =
| apsis = gee
}}
Banxing or BX-1 ({{zh|c=伴星|l=Companion Satellite}}),{{cite web|url= http://www.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.601|title= Issue 601|accessdate= 2008-10-22|author= Dr. Jonathan McDowell|author-link=Jonathan McDowell|date= 2008-10-12|publisher= Jonathan's Space Report|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110928184858/http://www.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.601|archive-date= 2011-09-28|url-status= dead}} is a small Chinese technology development satellite which was deployed from the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft at 11:27 GMT on 27 September 2008. Prior to deployment, the satellite was mounted on top of the Shenzhou 7 orbital module.
Purpose
Banxing was used to relay images of the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/flights/shezhou7.htm|title=Shenzhou 7 |last=Wade|first=Mark|publisher=Encyclopedia Astronautica|accessdate=2008-10-21| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080928194458/http://www.astronautix.com/flights/shezhou7.htm| archivedate= 28 September 2008 | url-status= dead}} Weighing some 40 kilograms, and containing two cameras and communication equipment, it was maneuvered using an ammonia gas-based propulsion system. Following the re-entry of Shenzhou 7, Banxing remained in orbit as part of a formation-flying experiment with the discarded Shenzhou orbital module.{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news%2FSubsat101008.xml&headline=Subsat%20Orbiting%20Empty%20Module|title=Subsat Orbiting Empty Module|last=Covault|first=Craig|date=2008-10-10|publisher=Aviation Week|accessdate=2008-10-21|archive-date=2012-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307152314/http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news%2FSubsat101008.xml&headline=Subsat%20Orbiting%20Empty%20Module|url-status=dead}}
A few hours after Banxing was launched it and the Shenzhou 7 orbital module passed unusually close to the International Space Station. This provoked some speculation that the experiment was intended to test military anti-satellite interception technology.{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122539460905385099 |title=China's Close Call |last=Fisher, JR |first=Richard D |date=2008-10-31 |work=The Wall Street Journal |accessdate=2008-11-01 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081103100100/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122539460905385099.html |archivedate=3 November 2008 |url-status=live }}
{{Clear}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Orbital launches in 2008}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2008
Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 2009
{{China-spacecraft-stub}}