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  Space Cover 405: Shenzhou 2

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Author Topic:   Space Cover 405: Shenzhou 2
Antoni RIGO
Member

Posts: 176
From: Palma de Mallorca, Is. Baleares - SPAIN
Registered: Aug 2013

posted 02-18-2017 10:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Antoni RIGO   Click Here to Email Antoni RIGO     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Space Cover of the Week, Week 405 (February 19, 2017)

Space Cover #405: Shenzhou 2

Shenzhou space program was, and still is, the major Chinese space program developed by People's Republic of China to put a man in space. It began in 1999 and reached its first goal in 2003 when Yang Liwei, the first taikonuat, orbited Earth. Later, Shenzhou program saw the first taikonaut female in orbit and, first docking to Tiangong space laboratory.

So, in some way, Shenzhou space program can be compared to Apollo space program. And this comparison no need to be analysed only in major event but in space schedule plans: to assure an habitable spacecraft, to put an animal in orbit, to put an human in orbit...

Shenzhou 2, what was a repetition of Shenzhou 1 to check all space phases, had as one of first goals to monitor the behaviour of first animals inside the spacecraft. However, this information was not widespread to mass media in order to keep a kind of secrecy for the manned Chinese plans.

After Shenzhou space mission was completed, Xinhua (official Chinese press agency) published most of details of this Shenzhou 2 mission, among them that Shenzhou carried live animals and/or organisms to space.

For several years I tried to get a cover for Shenzhou 2 mission with some kind of pictures for these animals/organisms without luck neither any kind of reference in the text until I found this Pakistani launch space cover concerning the Karachi space tracking in which two texts read:

Inside the reentry capsule were a monkey, a dog and a rabbit in a test of the spaceship's life support systems.

There were 64 different scientific payloads. Included a microgravity christallography experiment: animal species including six mice, and small aquatic and terrestrial organisms...

Expanded image of the texts.

Furthermore, I think this is the first space Pakistani cover shown in the Space Cover of the Week.

Bob M
Member

Posts: 1744
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 02-19-2017 10:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bob M   Click Here to Email Bob M     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Interesting cover and comments about this early Shenzhou test flight.

Antoni, and any others interested in Shenzhou covers for the Chinese spaceflights, can go to: China Space Cover for a large selection of Shenzhou covers beginning with Shenzhou-1. Fifteen covers are offered for Shenzhou-2, with their prices mostly between $5-$10.

And for us autograph hounds, most of the Shenzhou manned flights are still available signed by the crews.

Apollo-Soyuz
Member

Posts: 1205
From: Shady Side, Md
Registered: Sep 2004

posted 02-19-2017 10:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Apollo-Soyuz   Click Here to Email Apollo-Soyuz     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have bought a book off the above website and Guo Yarning was very prompt in sending me the book. He takes PayPal and I would recommend the site. He also will answer any questions. I will buy from him again.

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