China to launch Shenzhou-7 between Sept. 25-30

[MajorTom]

I really hope they don't try to land on Saturn. Don't they read their Arthur C. Clarke? He says they'll try to land on Europa. But then get eaten by the Europan space squid.

Meanwhile, streb2001 tells me he's working on Shenzhou 7 add-on. For now, to keep on truckin' with the Taikonauts, you may download the Shenzhou I and V add-on:

[ame="http://www.orbithangar.com/searchid.php?ID=3179"]China's Manned Space Program v1.5[/ame]



MT

 

[SiberianTiger]

Chinese vid highlighting the Sheng Zhou 7's mission profile

Here's one:

I find it odd the way they jettison the ship's fairing.

 

[JamesG]

Its not a particularly accurate animation.

 

[Jarvitä]

That brings to mind the old joke about a former Soviet bloc country (who shall remain nameless) who were planning a manned mission to the sun.

When informed that their pilots would be burnt to a cinder, they calmly replied that they'd already taken that into consideration and that's why they were landing at night :crazy:.

All kidding aside, best wishes to the crew of Shenzhou-7....

Haha, this reminds me of another joke, which originates long before the Chinese space program:

The first Chinese manned spacecraft reaches orbit. Their first report reads, "All systems operational. Boiler-men on duty, coal reserves sufficient for the planned duration of flight."

 

[cjp]

I made some pictures when I was in China. The space-related pictures were made in a science and technology museum in Shanghai:

I have more pictures, and high-res versions, for people who wish to make add-ons. As these were taken in a public museum, I assume this doesn't count as espionage .

 

[SiberianTiger]

The Chang Zheng II-F rocket's rolling out

OMG, there are many people around the launch pad! :blink:

 

[JamesG]

Well, its not like its fueled and ready to go. Its should be about as safe as standing next to a water tower.

 

[astrosammy]

Did they announce launch heading/inclination and orbit altitude already? Would be nice to go out and watch it moving over the sky...

 

[SiberianTiger]

Did they announce launch heading/inclination and orbit altitude already? Would be nice to go out and watch it moving over the sky...

There's nothing about altitude yet, but i is expected to be 43.4°, like in the previous missions.

 

[Woo482]

I want to Stand that close to a shuttle launch !!

 

[MajorTom]

I made some pictures when I was in China. The space-related pictures were made in a science and technology museum in Shanghai:

I have more pictures, and high-res versions, for people who wish to make add-ons. As these were taken in a public museum, I assume this doesn't count as espionage .

cjp, if you can get me the detailed versions of those pictures, especially of the CZ-2F upper stage engine area, (not easy to find detail photos of that area) you will have won the package of Seattle coffee I promised to anyone here who can get me detailed photos.

(My original post on this topic is probably on the old m6 forum).

streb2001 is the current Shenzhou add-on guru, and as his collaborator on the Chinese Manned space program "package" add-on, I've got a special interest in the CZ-2F launcher. I'll PM you my email info.

Cheers-
MT

 

[Belisarius]

Any chance of doing an EVA in forthcoming versions of Shenzou?

 

[MajorTom]

Any chance of doing an EVA in forthcoming versions of Shenzou?

Ummu is definitely on the list for the first DLL version of Shenzhou (currently, we're using spacecraft3).

We may have to make do with a substitute mesh for the suit, possibly the Orlan mesh, if it's available.

MT

 

[SiberianTiger]

Did they announce launch heading/inclination and orbit altitude already? Would be nice to go out and watch it moving over the sky...

Additional information released: the mean orbit height will be 343 km; the launch time is scheduled for between 21:07 and 22:27 Beijing time.

 

[Belisarius]

Which day?

 

[tblaxland]

Which day?

Sep 25.

 

[Belisarius]

Ta. So it's tomorrow - strange, I still haven't seen anything on this in the mainstream news.

 

[Moonwalker]

Not Shenzhou 7 (), but Shenzhou 6:

-----Posted Added-----

Ta. So it's tomorrow - strange, I still haven't seen anything on this in the mainstream news.

Well, that's the usual communistic secret-mongering I guess.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Not Shenzhou 7 (), but Shenzhou 6:

They actually put a rocket cam on their rocket. :huh: Something that is still very hard for enthusiastic people to push through Russian bureaucracy!

 

[Moonwalker]

They actually put a rocket cam on their rocket. :huh: Something that is still very hard for enthusiastic people to push through Russian bureaucracy!

Sadly yes. I would love to see that.

Also, by watching the launch of Shenzhou for the first time I thought that it is a shame that Europe still doesn't do manned space flight using its own launch vehicle