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Shenzhou 1- November 19, 1999- unmanned test flight 2005-10-11 21:36:48    CRIENGLISH.com Shenzhou 1 launched on November 19, 1999, was the first unmanned launch of the Shenzhou spacecraft. The spacecraft used was not equipped with a life support system or emergency escaping system. After orbiting the Earth 14 times, command for retrofire was sent by the Yuan Wang 3 tracking ship off the coast of Namibia at 18:49 UTC. After a successful reentry it landed about 415 km east of its launch pad and 110 km north-west of Wuhai, Inner Mongolia. The first Shenzhou spacecraft was different to those later used. Instead of featuring unfolding solar panels, Shenzhou 1 was equipped with fixed solar cells. During this first flight there were also no orbit changes. According to Qi Faren the chief designer of the spacecraft, only 8 of the 13 sub-systems onboard the spacecraft were operational. Shenzhou 1 was designed primarily to test the Long March 2F rocket. The only areas tested on the spacecraft were the separation of the modules, attitude control, lifting body reentry, the heat shield, ground recovery. It carried 100 kg of seeds to investigate the affects on them of the space environment. It is also thought that the front of the Orbital Module was equipped with a dummy ELINT package, with Shenzhou 2 onwards equipped with fully functional models. It was announced in June 1999 that the flight would take place in October of that year. At about the same time images were released on a Chinese military internet forum of the Long March 2F launcher and the Vehicle Assembly Building that would be used. Mission Parameters Mass: 7,600 kg Perigee: 195 km Apogee: 315 km Inclination: 42.6° Period: 89.6 minutes NSSDC ID: 1999-061A (Source: Wikipedia)       Talk China       Print       Email       Recommend ASTRONAUSTS Nie Haisheng Fei Junlong Shenzhou 6 is the second manned flight of China. It has been launched in October 2005, carrying two astronauts for five to six days in orbit. HOT POSTS • Shenzhou-6 launched!  by knownothing People have dreamed to fly like a bird in the sky, now the spacecraft has been launched, what a big lead, but what does that mean to China? • Successful Launch  by bestever Congratulations! China's second manned space mission a success!   CRIENGLISH.com claims the copyright of all material and information produced originally by our staff. All rights reserved. Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes only is permitted provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and a notifying email is sent to us. CRIENGLISH.com holds neither liability nor responsibility for materials attributed to any other source. Such information is provided as reportage and dissemination of information but does not necessarily reflect the opinion of or endorsement by CRI.

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