Chinese Long March Launches Unmanned Shenzhou 3

A Long March 2F successfully launched Shenzhou 3 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 1415 UTC (6:15 a.m. PST) on March 25. Chinese President Jiang Zemin attended the launch. A satellite is included as an auxiliary payload on this flight, though no details on the satellite have been made available.

There will be a human dummy on board as part of the test of the life protection system. Other tests will include checking the safety of the reentry system as well as conducting experiments on board and sensing the space environment. After the Descent Module separates from the Orbital Module for reentry, the Orbital Module will continue operation in orbit for about half a year. This mission also includes an auxiliary satellite. News reports do not indicate when the Descent Module is expected to return.

Instead of using monkeys China is using dummies rigged up with sensors. "Unlike decades ago when many technical difficulties existed, making a dummy is now simpler. We could, say, measure simulated blood pressure using a dummy on a mission. If a monkey is launched into space, unless it is tightly secured and made immobile, the monkey could touch anything on board and cause troubles. "Speaking from another perspective, we want to guarantee the safety of the yuhangyuans much as with the animals. Otherwise animal protection groups would protest," said Zhuang Fenggan, Chairman of Science and Technology Committee of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

Mission designers had hoped to improve the interior installation of the spacecraft on this mission, but problems appeared after the changes were implemented. This forced the design team to revert back to the previous interior set-up and delayed this year’s mission.

The long delay of the Shenzhou 3 mission has pushed back the timeline of the first manned flight. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported, a year ago, senior Chinese space officials saying that China could launch the first manned mission late this year. Hu Shixiang, Deputy Minister of the General Armament Department of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), recently acknowledged that that timeline has became unrealistic. Hu said that depending on the outcome of additional unmanned test flights of Shenzhou, the first manned mission could take place as early as next year. If testing progresses smoothly, there may be another unmanned test flight this year.

Among those who accompanied Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center included Wu Bangguo, member of the Political Bureau of the CCP Central Committee and vice-premier, Zeng Qinghong, alternate member of the Political Bureau and member of the Secretariat of the CCP Central Committee, Yu Yongbo, member of the Central Military Commission and director of the PLA General Political Department, and Cao Gangchuan, member of the Central Military Commission and director of the PLA General Armament Department.

This is the third flight of the CZ-2F launch vehicle, which was designed and developed at the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). The first unmanned test flight of the Shenzhou program was in November 1999. The Shenzhou 1 orbited the earth 14 times in a 12-hour mission aimed mainly at testing launch and re-entry capabilities. The Shenzhou 2 was launched on January 9, 2001, orbiting the earth 108 times while testing life support systems.

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