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  China's Tiangong-1 space lab development

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Author Topic:   China's Tiangong-1 space lab development
Robert Pearlman
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posted 10-02-2008 06:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Source: CCTV
Zhang Jianqi, Deputy Chief Designer of China's Manned Space Program said "After the Shenzhou-7, we will work on building the space laboratory, which is called the Tiangong-1. After that, we will launch the Shenzhou-8,9 and 10. The docking technology will first to be tested on the unmanned, and then on the manned systems. All those missions will be accomplished in the first stage of the second step."

Zhang also said the Tiangong 1 is like a minature space laboratory. It weighs the same as the Shenzhou spacecraft, which is about eight tons. The Tiangong 1 will accomplish the docking mission to the spacecraft.

Zhang Jianqi said "We will conduct four launches of the Tiangong, Shenzhou-8,9 and 10 in two years. Because the Tiangong 1 only has a two-year life span."

Zhang Jianqi said after the Shenzhou 10 finishes docking, the program will move towards the goal of building a permanent space station.

Shenzhou VIII, which is expected to launch in 2010~2011, and Shenzhou IX will be unmanned missions. Shenzhou X will carry a crew to the Tiangong-1 space station.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 01-26-2009 08:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Engadget: China's Tiangong 1 space station unveiled for tiny Taikonauts
Ok, it's just a scale model, but what you're looking at is the first module from China's budding Tiangong (meaning "Heavenly Place") space station program. It was just revealed to the surprise and delight of Engadget Chinese during a TV special celebrating the Chinese New Year. The 8 ton module is scheduled to launch by 2010 with two more modules (Tiangong 2 and Tiangong 3) to follow by 2015 after which Taikonauts will begin to stay in orbit.

DChudwin
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posted 03-08-2009 10:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DChudwin   Click Here to Email DChudwin     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Xinhua reports that China plans to launch the Shenzhou 8 and Shenzhou 9 spacecraft in 2011.
China plans to launch an unmanned space module into orbit as early as the end of 2010, which is expected to dock with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 in 2011. It would be the country's first space docking.

If the space module and spacecraft dock successfully, the country will launch in the same year the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft with taikonauts aboard, former chief designer of China's manned space project Wang Yongzhi said.

Liang Xiaohong, vice president of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, told Xinhua Saturday the module and two spacecraft will be carried by Long March 2F rockets and launched between the fourth quarter of 2010 and October, 2011.

Shenzhou-9 will also dock with the module, Liang said.

"The two dockings, one unmanned and one manned, will lay a solid foundation for the setup of a space station," Liang said.

Taikonauts for Shenzhou-9 will be chosen from the first 14 taikonauts of the country, which include six taikonauts who had entered space before, Wang said.

China will soon start selecting a new batch of taikonauts, which may include the country's first female taikonaut. However, they need a long time of training and will not catch up with the Shenzhou-9 mission, he added.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 08-09-2009 07:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This video purports to show the Tiangong-1 spacecraft being prepared for flight:

Robert Pearlman
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posted 03-03-2010 11:52 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
AFP reports that China has postponed the next step in its space station program until 2011 for technical reasons.
China had originally planned to place the Tiangong-1 space module in orbit late this year and undertake experimental docking manoeuvres in subsequent missions, Xinhua news agency cited rocket designer Qi Faren as saying.

But the initial launch has now been delayed by a year due to "technical reasons", Qi said, without elaborating.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 08-18-2010 07:00 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Xinhua reports that China has finished construction of its first unmanned space module, Tiangong-1, and it is testing the module's electronic, mechanical and thermal properties.
The 8.5-tonne Tiangong-1 will be put into preset orbit in 2011, the source added.

The space module is expected to carry out China's first space docking, with the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, which will be launched in the second half of 2011 after Tiangong-1.

The source said experts are currently building the Shenzhou-8 and testing the Long March II-F carrier rocket on which the Tiangong-1 is expected to be launched.

Chinese astronauts, including two females, are undergoing training for the space docking, the source said.

Earlier reports said two other spacecraft, the Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-10 spaceships, will be launched in 2012 and will also dock with Tiangong-1.

SkyMan1958
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posted 08-09-2011 03:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
People's Daily reports that the Long March 2F carrier rocket that will launch Tiangong-1 in August arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on July 23.
Zhang [Jianqi, former vice director of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and former vice general director of China's manned space flight engineering] also said that Tiangong 1, which is about to be launched soon, is the embryonic form of China's first space station laboratory. It weights eight tons and its designed life is two years...

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology developed the Long March 2 carrier rocket for this mission. In order to meet the requirements of the rendezvous and docking, related experts have made about 170 technological improvements on the rocket. After the rocket arrived at the center, technicians also carried out the strictest and most careful examination work on every functional part of the rocket...

Zhang said that China will have its own space station in 2020.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 08-17-2011 09:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to the blog Parabolic Arc, citing a translated report on the China National Space Administration website, the countdown may be underway for the launch of Tiangong-1.
A report on the China National Space Administration website indicates that the Tiangong 1 (Heavenly Palace) space station is in its countdown. "Reporters learned from the Chinese military networks, at present, 'Tiangong' has entered the countdown."

Robert Pearlman
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posted 09-01-2011 06:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Xinhua reports that China has decided to reschedule the launch of the Tiangong-1, an unmanned space module, due to the failed launch of an experimental orbiter.
The decision to delay the launch was based on the consideration that the carrier rocket Long-March II-F, which would be used for the upcoming launch, belongs to the same series as the malfunctioning one that led to the experimental orbiter SJ-11-04 failing to enter Earth's orbit in August.

"As the investigation into the malfunction of the rocket Long-March II-C remains underway, it is not clear yet whether the malfunction is linked with the Long-March II-F," the unnamed spokesperson said.

Previously, the Long-March II-F was expected to send the 8.5-metric ton Tiangong-1, or "Heavenly Palace 1," into space in the second half of this year to perform the nation's first space-docking procedure.

The Tiangong-1 will dock with the unmanned Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, which will be sent into space after the Tiangong-1's launch.

"The specific launch date for the Tiangong-1 will be set based on the results of the investigation into the malfunctioning rocket," the spokesperson said, adding that the project's teams are currently double-checking every product that will be involved in the space-docking.

The Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, the Long March II-F carrier rocket, and the Tiangong-1 have all been transferred to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province, the spokesperson said.

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
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posted 09-26-2011 08:17 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Xinhua reports that predicted weather conditions has further delayed the launch of Tiangong-1.
The unmanned Tiangong-1 module was originally scheduled to be launched into low Earth orbit between Sept. 27 and 30. However, a weather forecast showing the arrival of a cold air mass at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center forced the launch to be rescheduled for Sept. 29 or 30, depending on weather and other factors...

The mission comes just one month after the Long March 2C rocket malfunctioned and failed to send an experimental satellite into orbit. The Tiangong-1 mission was subsequently rescheduled in order to allow engineers to sort out any problems that might occur during the launch.

The Tiangong-1 will remain in orbit for two years. During its mission, it will dock with China's Shenzhou-8, -9 and -10 spacecrafts.

Unmanned docking procedures will be an essential step toward China achieving its goal of establishing a manned space station around 2020.

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 09-28-2011 06:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Xinhua reports that China's first space lab module Tiangong-1 is scheduled to be launched between 9:16 p.m. and 9:31 p.m. Thursday (1316-1331 GMT; 8:16-8:31 a.m. CDT).

In state news service also reports that the unmanned Shenzhou 8 will be launched on schedule, despite the delays to Tiangong-1's liftoff.

The experimental space station will conduct the country's first-ever space docking with the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft, which is scheduled to be launched in November, said Niu Hongguang, deputy commander-in-chief of the country's manned space program.

All times are CT (US)

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