China
Launches Second Unmanned Spacecraft
China Launches Second Unmanned Spacecraft
China launched an unmanned spacecraft, "Shenzhou
II", early Wednesday morning from Jiuquan Satellite
Launching Center of Gansu Province, and ten minutes
after blast-off, the spaceship entered its preset
orbit.
The successful launch at Jiuquan Satellite Launch
Center in northwestern Gansu Province was China's
second in a series of flights expected to lead
to a first manned space flight.
It marked a step forward in China's manned space
program.
Chinese President Jiang Zemin sent a congratulatory
message to hail the successful launch and convey
his greetings to the scientists, cadres, workers,
and People's Liberation Army servicemen involved
in the manufacture and launch of the unmanned
spacecraft.
China conducted its first test flight of "Shenzhou"
in 1999 at the Jiuquan launch site. And according
to a plan, it will launch more unmanned spacecraft
until a manned spaceship takes shape.
"Shenzhou II" is composed of an orbital module,
returning module and booster rockets. Compared
with its predecessor, the new spacecraft has been
improved in structure and technological qualities,
whose functions are basically identical to a manned
space aircraft.
The spaceship, made solely by Chinese scientists
and engineers, is expected to return in a few
days.
During the flight, experiments on space life
sciences, space materials, space astronomy and
physics will be conducted.
The "Long March II F" carrier rocket that carries
the spacecraft was a new powerful product made
in China especially for the manned space program.
Its overall structure, power system, control system
and remote monitoring system has been improved
to ensure reliability, and new trouble-shooting
system and life-saving system have been added
for better safety of the spacemen.
This was the 65th launch of the "Long March"
carrier rocket series, and its 23rd successful
launch in a row since October 1996.
The launch site was built solely by China, which
was designed to launch both satellites and space
aircraft. It is capable of a general assembly
in a vertical way, vertical tests of the combined
body of the space aircraft and booster rockets
and vertical transportation of the combined body.
The technology of long-distance monitoring and
control of the launching is also used.
The spacecraft was developed and manufactured
mainly by the Chinese Research Institute of Space
Technology under the China Aerospace Science and
Technology Corporation, and Shanghai Research
Institute of Astronomical Technology. The carrier
rocket was made by the China Research Institute
of Carrier Rocket Technology under the Aerospace
Corporation.
Relevant departments of the Chinese Academy
of Sciences and the Ministry of Information Industry
took part in the design, manufacture and test
of the project.
During the flight, under the command of the
Beijing Aerospace Directing and Controlling Center,
the Xi'an Satellite Monitoring Center of China
and the surveying ships named "Yuanwang" stationed
at high seas will trace, survey and control its
operations.
An official responsible for the launch said
that the success of the "Shenzhou II" is "of great
importance for China to comprehensively grasp
the manned space technologies and make technological
breakthroughs."
"More unmanned test flights will be launched
to pave the way for sending Chinese astronauts
into space in the end," he said.
Control Center of "Shenzhou II"
With the successful launch of the unmanned
spacecraft "Shenzhou II" early Wednesday morning,
a control center in Beijing plays the role of
headquarters to monitor and control the flight.
Beijing Aerospace Directing and Controlling
Center, the third biggest aerospace control
center in the world, has successfully directed
"Shenzhou II" into the designated orbit and
has been tracing, monitoring and controlling
the spacecraft. In the controlling hall of the
center, four huge screens were presenting the
data on the operation of the spacecraft in a
three- dimensional manner. In the laboratory
for remote control and measuring and orbit determination,
technological personnel are busy sending orders
and relevant data, so that the spacecraft can
travel along the pre-set orbit and return to
the earth safely. The main computer laboratory
accommodates hundreds of computers and a high-speed
data network, which form a huge complicated
computer system for receiving, handling and
transmitting data on the mission of the space
flight. The laboratories for telecommunications
and data transmission link the control center
with "Shenzhou II," all ground-based monitoring
stations and the surveying ships stationed on
the high seas. The successful launch at the
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern
Gansu Province was China's second in a series
of flights expected to lead to its first manned
space flight. Chinese President Jiang Zemin
sent a congratulatory message hailing the successful
launch. China conducted its first test flight
of "Shenzhou" (meaning "magic vessel" in Chinese)
in November 1999 at the Jiuquan launch site.
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