China Fulfils Space Docking Mission as Shenzhou-8 Returns

China wrapped up its first-ever space docking mission Thursday upon return of the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8, leaping towards the nation's ambition of building a permanent manned space station in around 2020.

 

Shenzhou-8, aided in the air by a parachute, landed in Siziwang Banner (county) in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at around 7:30 PM, marking the end of the 49-day space docking mission that is hoped to pave the way for the establishment of the nation's own space station.

 

Chang Wanquan, commander-in-chief of the manned space program, announced at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) that the space docking mission was a "complete success."

 

"The whole procedure of space docking -- from the launches of both Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-8 into orbits, the two docking tests, to Shenzhou-8 return -- was flawless," said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of the manned space program.

 

"We have not only made a breakthrough in space docking technologies, but also validated the capability of the rocket, the spacecraft as well as the whole system, laying a solid foundation for the building of a space station," Zhou said at the BACC after watching the return of Shenzhou-8.

 

"Technically, I would give the mission full marks," he said.

 

Shortly after the landing, Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang, who also observed the return of Shenzhou-8 at the BACC, delivered a congratulatory note issued by the central authorities.

 

The successful rendezvous and docking between the target orbiter Tiangong-1 and the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft marks a significant breakthrough in China's space docking technology, and it is also a great leap in China's aerospace technologies, Zhang said.

 

It is an important milestone in the history of China's manned space program, and a landmark in China's pursuit of transforming itself into a country of innovation, Zhang said.

 

Launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Nov. 1, Shenzhou-8 first rendezvoused and docked with the target orbiter Tiangong-1 two days later. The two joint vessels then orbited earth for 12 days and conducted another docking after disengagement on Nov. 14.

 

Tiangong-1, which blasted off from the same launch site on Sept. 29, will remain in orbit to await docking attempts of both Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 in 2012. At least one of the two space vessels will take astronauts.

 

Three-phase manned program

 

China initiated its three-phase manned program in 1992. During the first phase, astronaut Yang Liwei became the first of the nation in 2003 to be in space on Shenzhou-5.

 

After Chinese astronauts made successful extravehicular activities during the Shenzhou-7 mission in 2008, China started the second phase of the space program: space docking.

 

After the planned Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 missions both in 2012, China will build a space lab around 2016, which will mark the end of the second phase.

 

In the third stage, China plans to develop and launch multiple space modules, with a goal of assembling a 60-tonne space station in around 2020. Chinese astronauts will operate more space research projects.

 

The assembly of the China-made space station will come at a time when the International Space Station (ISS), which was jointly initiated by the United States and Russia, will likely retire.

 

Chief designer Zhou said China will turn its future space station into a platform for international cooperation on space research and applications.

 

"The Chinese space exploration will benefit well-being of all humanity," Zhou said.

 

Independent, economical and reliable program

 

China started its space project from scratch in the 1950s when the country was still mired in poverty. Without any foreign experience to borrow, China had to develop space technologies independently.

 

"The theory of space docking is not hard to understand, but realization of the procedures is extremely complex," Zhou said.

 

"All the technologies and products on space docking were developed independently by ourselves," he said. "Nothing was bought from others."

 

Zhou said China has built up its own industrial, technical and innovative systems in the field of aerospace through independent development and innovation.

 

Compared with space dockings of the United States and Russia, the cost-effective Chinese way features multiple docking with the same target orbiter Tiangong-1, which is scheduled to link to Shenzhou-8, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 respectively.

 

"China's manned space program is economical," Zhou said.

 

Following the principle of "get more done on less money," China has spent about 35 billion yuan (US$5.4 billion) on its manned space program since 1992, China Manned Space Engineering Office data showed.

 

In contrast, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has an annual budget of US$17 to US$18 billion.

 

"China's expenditure on manned space program over the past two decades is no more than one year's expenses of the United States," Zhou said.

 

"We prioritize reliability and safety while maintaining fast development, though we have also been set back by failures," he said.

 

China has maintained a 94.4 percent success rate for its 130 launches, above the global average of 93.7 percent. All six of the astronauts China has sent into space since 2003 have returned to earth safely.

 

Zhou, however, noted that China's aerospace technologies still lag behind the United States and Russia though tremendous progress has been achieved.

 

The world's mainstream rockets have the thrust capacity of 20 tonnes, which China hardly possesses, Zhou said.

 

To prepare for the building of China's own space station, China is developing a new generation of carrier rockets featuring larger thrust, said Jing Muchun, chief engineer for the carrier rocket system of the manned space program.

 

 

 

The re-entry capsule of Shenzhou-8 spacecraft is found at a landing site located in Siziwang Banner in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Nov. 17, 2011. The Shenzhou-8 unmanned spacecraft returned to Earth Thursday evening after completing the country's first docking mission with target orbiter Tiangong-1. [Xinhua]