Topic: Shenzhou 11: mission comments and questions
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-15-2016 11:55 AM
This thread is intended for comments and questions about China's sixth crewed mission and the updates posted under the topic: China's Shenzhou 11 mission to Tiangong-2.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-15-2016 09:06 PM
Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong will carry out the Shenzhou 11 mission. From Xinhua:
The 50-year-old Jing will be commander of the mission, Wu Ping, deputy director of China's manned space engineering office, told a press conference.
It will be Jing's third spaceflight following his Shenzhou 7 mission in 2008 and Shenzhou 9 mission in 2012.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-16-2016 08:21 PM
CCTV video
The Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou 11 lifted off from from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert. In two days, it will rendezvous with the Tiangong-2 space lab.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-18-2016 05:45 PM
Jing Haipeng floats inside Tiangong-2 after the Shenzhou 11 docking (Oct. 18):
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-23-2016 04:43 PM
Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong are filing journals from Tiangong-2 for the Xinhua news agency:
We ate only one meal for breakfast and lunch. They were largely ready-to-eat foods, or what we often say snacks. We took few staple food. We did heat rice and noodle, but in a little while forgot all about them. We are to make up for the meal at night.
I heard that Xu Sidan, a student from Hangzhou school for the deaf asked me a question on Xinhua's mobile app. Xu asked whether I have seen aliens yet? What a beautiful imagination this child has. I haven't seen aliens, yet, but I do harbor a hope that I will see aliens, and many other peculiar things aside.
Another child asked me whether human get space sickness. Although a spaceship is a "ship," it is not at all like being at sea or onboard a car. This feeling of zero gravity will not cause sickness. It is just a wonderful feeling; very, very good.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-16-2016 05:44 AM
According to Andrew Jones on Twitter:
Shenzhou 11 crew to land Friday, Nov. 18 between 05:33-06:13 universal time (00:33-01:13 EST / 13:33-14:13 Beijing time).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-18-2016 12:46 AM
Xinhua News Service
The return capsule of the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft was found in the main landing area in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 2:07 p.m. Friday Beijing Time [1:07 a.m. EST Nov. 18], according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-19-2016 09:55 AM
European Space Agency (ESA) video
This video was recorded inside the Chinese space lab Tiangong-2 by astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong. The duo landed safely on Earth on 18 November after spending a month orbiting Earth. A few hours before their descent, ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet was launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station.
ESA's Director of Human Spaceflight, David Parker, noted, "Human spaceflight provides many opportunities to increase international cooperation, and the interaction between the Astronaut Centre of China and the European Astronaut Centre is already creating positive experiences on which to build for the future."
A cheesecake created by French chef Alain Ducasse for Thomas Pesquet's six-month mission on the International Space Station was sent to the Chinese astronauts.
Chinese astronaut Ye Guangfu, who trained with the astronauts in this video, took part in ESA's underground course this summer.