China Launches Unmanned Shenzhou in Second Test Flight

A Long March 2F launched Shenzhou 2 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 1700 UTC on January 9. Shenzhou 2 was launched into a 197 km (106 nmi) by 335 km (181 nmi) orbit, inclined at 42.58 degrees with a period of 89.83 minutes. It was a chilly morning at the launch site, with a temperature of minus 13°C (9°F). The test flight is expected to last between five and seven days depending on how smoothly the tests go. The launch vehicle was built by China Great Wall Industries.

A series of scientific tests will be conducted on the spacecraft. A number of animals and microbial cells provided by the Chinese Academy of Sciences are aboard the spacecraft are on board to test the environmental system. Other tests are expected to test the guidance and re-entry systems.

China announced the second launching shortly after it occurred and provided more information about the craft and rocket. The second Shenzhou capsule includes structure and technology improvements over its predecessor. The spacecraft was unmanned, but carried the technology and equipment designed for manned spaceflight, such as the escape system. The Shenzhou appears to be similar in design to the Russian-built Soyuz spacecraft. However, the Chinese capsule is 13% larger than the Soyuz spacecraft. It can carry two to three, perhaps four people. The Long March rocket included upgraded troubleshooting and safety systems.

China will likely make three or four additional unmanned test flights before it sends a human into space. It is not known when the first human launch will take place. China recently published plans indicating intentions to build its own space station as early as 2015.

The spacecraft was made by the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology and the Shanghai Research Institute of Astronautical Technology, with experimental equipment provided by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Information Industry.

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