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| China's Flag |
China's first space laboratory, Tiangong-1, rolled into orbit on Thursday night 29 September 2011, just one days before China's National Day celebrations on October 1. Launch Tiangong, which means heavenly palace, is a demonstration of China's rapid progress in the world of space that once dominated the United States.
Launch Tiangong-1 will be followed by an unmanned spacecraft Shenzou-8, which will be flown over the coming months. China will try to land Shenzou on the dock Tiangong. Docking process is regarded as one of the main elements to conduct space exploration in the long term.
Launch Tiangong-1 will be followed by an unmanned spacecraft Shenzou-8, which will be flown over the coming months. China will try to land Shenzou on the dock Tiangong. Docking process is regarded as one of the main elements to conduct space exploration in the long term.
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| Chinese space station Tiangong-1. (Picture from: http://transgriot.blogspot.com/) |
Tiangong-1 was flown to space, using a Long March 2F rocket from Satellite Launch Center Jiuquan in northwest China. "This is a test that is very significant," said Lu Jinrong, chief engineer at the launch center.
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| The Tiangong-1 space lab was launched in Satellite Launch Center Jiuquan, northwest China. (Picture from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/) |
Test module was designed to test docking technology, which is an important step in realizing China plans to orbit a manned station in space, next door to the International Space Station (ISS), which is a joint project of five space agencies, the NASA (United States), RKA ( Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (European Union), and CSA (Canada). Team leader of China's manned space program designers, Zhou Jianping, said docking technology is the most risky aspects of space programs that involve humans. "We do not want to rely on technology from other countries," Zhou said. "So we have to create your own."
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| Tiangong-1 habitation module. (Picture from: http://interspacenews.com/) |
He explained that the United States and Russia have developed various procedures docking technology, but only for a single landing for each mission. In contrast to the style of the ISS, Tiangong-1 will be a docking place for the three spacecraft at once, Shenzhou-8, 9, and 10, to save costs. To support the mission, Zhou and his team have developed a laser radar systems and sophisticated microwave radar.
One challenge is to maintain a distance of several centimeters between the two spacecraft before they are connected. They also require the burning of a small amount of fuel to complete the docking process that took place in robotics.
"The most thrilling moment when the docking will take place when a series of operations should be completed quickly and accurately, or a vehicle that works with a speed of 7.7 kilometers per hour it will end up being a disaster," he said, as quoted by Xinhua.
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| The pic is about that the Tiangong-1,2 and the SZ-8,9,10 docked together. (Picture from: http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/) |
"The most thrilling moment when the docking will take place when a series of operations should be completed quickly and accurately, or a vehicle that works with a speed of 7.7 kilometers per hour it will end up being a disaster," he said, as quoted by Xinhua.
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| Chinese space station Tiangong-1 and Long-March 2F rocket. (Picture from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/) |
In order for the docking process goes according to plan, China will launch three spacecraft at different times. The trials will take place in low Earth orbit.
Tiangong-1 will be in orbit for 2 years. In addition to the mission of testing the docking process, the module was carrying a number of engineering and medical experiments into space.
After conducting two trials with an unmanned spacecraft, China is likely to send astronauts to ride the Shenzhou-10. Vehicle was possibly a female that will carry astronauts to test the docking process manually.
Solar-powered modules weighing 8.5 tons with a length of 10.4 meters and a diameter of 3.35 meters it would be a very important milestone for China's space program is growing. In 2020, China intends to build a manned space station like the ISS's Station weighing 60 tons was about the size of NASA's Skylab in 1970.
China's space station, which until now has not officially named, is the most ambitious project in the country's space exploration. In addition to building the space station, China plans to land a man on the moon.
At present, China is the third country to launch humans into orbit, after the United States and Russia. China's manned space mission that first took place in 2003. Yang Liwei was the first Chinese taikonaut that slid into orbit using spacecraft Shenzhou-5 in 2003. Prime mission for 21 hours was followed by two other manned missions in 2005 and 2008.
"The ultimate goal of China's developing space technology to explore outer space resources and utilize them for the welfare of mankind," said Zhou.
But the secrecy and the close relationship with the Chinese space agency with the country's military has limited cooperation in space with other countries, including the ISS. A number of countries are also doubts about the peaceful of the country's space exploration. *** [TJANDRA DEWI | AP | XINHUA | KORAN TEMPO 3666]
Tiangong-1 will be in orbit for 2 years. In addition to the mission of testing the docking process, the module was carrying a number of engineering and medical experiments into space.
After conducting two trials with an unmanned spacecraft, China is likely to send astronauts to ride the Shenzhou-10. Vehicle was possibly a female that will carry astronauts to test the docking process manually.
Solar-powered modules weighing 8.5 tons with a length of 10.4 meters and a diameter of 3.35 meters it would be a very important milestone for China's space program is growing. In 2020, China intends to build a manned space station like the ISS's Station weighing 60 tons was about the size of NASA's Skylab in 1970.
China's space station, which until now has not officially named, is the most ambitious project in the country's space exploration. In addition to building the space station, China plans to land a man on the moon.
At present, China is the third country to launch humans into orbit, after the United States and Russia. China's manned space mission that first took place in 2003. Yang Liwei was the first Chinese taikonaut that slid into orbit using spacecraft Shenzhou-5 in 2003. Prime mission for 21 hours was followed by two other manned missions in 2005 and 2008.
"The ultimate goal of China's developing space technology to explore outer space resources and utilize them for the welfare of mankind," said Zhou.
But the secrecy and the close relationship with the Chinese space agency with the country's military has limited cooperation in space with other countries, including the ISS. A number of countries are also doubts about the peaceful of the country's space exploration. *** [TJANDRA DEWI | AP | XINHUA | KORAN TEMPO 3666]
