Launch News 神舟八号 (Shenzhou 8 atop CZ-2F, 31st Oct 2011 22:00 UTC)

[MattBaker]

So, what's left on the mission timeline? Station Reboost and landing?

 

[orb]

So, what's left on the mission timeline? Station Reboost and landing?

I don't know about any planned reboost of Tiangong 1 by Shenzhou 8, but its deorbit and landing should be the day after tomorrow.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

For those who are interested, here is a photo report and a video report
of the undocking and re-docking.

So, what's left on the mission timeline? Station Reboost and landing?

Yup, that's the plan. Shenzhou 8 will undock from Tiangong 1 on Wednesday and land on the following day. Tiangong 1 will be boosted to a higher orbit in preparation for the Shenzhou 9 mission early next year (not sure if it will be a manned mission).

 

[kuddel]

Great video! It's something I always like to see.
It's funny, but it seems that we had to wait for the chinese to show us how beautiful docking really looks!
Heads off. Whether you like the chinese system or not, you have to admit that they publish some beautiful videos and archived a big step! :tiphat:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Looks like landing will probably occur at around 11:20 UTC on Thursday.

    A1707/11 - TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED:
    AN AREA BOUNDED BY
    N4314E10909-N4143E10915-N4211E11400-N4316E11352.ALL ACFT ARE
    PROHIBITED TO ENTER THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA. SFC - UNL, 17 NOV 11:14 2011
    UNTIL 17 NOV 11:44 2011. CREATED: 15 NOV 08:52 2011

Not sure if the Chinese will show it live on TV...

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Shenzhou 8 has undocked from Tiangong 1 at 10:30 UTC.

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Chinese Docking Spacecraft Readies for Return to Earth Thursday

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

SZ-8 Landing!

Alert: Shenzhou 8 will do its de-orbit burn within 10 minutes from now. Check CCTV's English channel for the latest news.

 

[IronRain]

Linkie: http://english.cntv.cn/live/

 

[IronRain]

Main chute successfully deployed!

 

[IronRain]

Touchdown!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

First photos of the landed capsule:

 

[orb]

First photos of the landed capsule:

I see no pictures, but www.9ifly.cn looks down at the moment: http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/www.9ifly.cn

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

I see no pictures, but www.9ifly.cn looks down at the moment: http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/www.9ifly.cn

Hmm... it's working for me here... :shrug:

 

[IronRain]

Not good quality but: Orbital module separation, de-orbit burn, Reentry module separation and landing

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjxg6MgTH-s"]Shenzhou 8 undocking Tiangong 1 and Reentry 17.11.2011 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: Chinese Space Capsule Lands After Successful Docking Test Flight

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Not good quality but: Orbital module separation, de-orbit burn, Reentry module separation and landing

Shenzhou 8 undocking Tiangong 1 and Reentry 17.11.2011 - YouTube

And a better quality video in Chinese:

P.S. I am impressed by the fact that the Chinese are showing live video for all the major steps of the landing (separation of the modules, the de-orbit burn etc.). The Russians should learn about how to do it NOW: not only that could be of great PR value, it could also help in trouble-shooting of descent problems with the Soyuz (remember the separation troubles and ballistic landings with Soyuz TMA-1/10/11? :facepalm

 

[orb]

DLR: Shenzhou-8: Safe touch-down with German SIMBOX experiments

Universe Today: Shenzhou-8 lands after China’s 1st Space Docking propelling Ambitious Human Spaceflight Agenda

Spaceflight Now: Chinese Shenzhou capsule returns after docking mission

 

[garyw]

P.S. I am impressed by the fact that the Chinese are showing live video for all the major steps of the landing (separation of the modules, the de-orbit burn etc.). The Russians should learn about how to do it NOW: not only that could be of great PR value, it could also help in trouble-shooting of descent problems with the Soyuz (remember the separation troubles and ballistic landings with Soyuz TMA-1/10/11? :facepalm

As am I. How is China able to do this? I assume that when the separation took place the Shenzou wasn't over China so wasn't over a ground station?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

As am I. How is China able to do this? I assume that when the separation took place the Shenzou wasn't over China so wasn't over a ground station?

1. The Chinese have several ground stations on the grounds of friendly countries (e.g. one each in Namibia, Kenya and Pakistan), plus they currently have three tracking ships that could be placed in strategic areas for tracking and data relay (with the high frequency of launches during the past two years, these ships are working for months outside China).

2. The Chinese has already have a two-satellite tracking and data-relay system in GSO (the Tianlian-1 system, launched in April 2008 and July 2011). They have seen frequent uses in this mission (although I understand that the de-orbit burn and module separations coverage are done with ground stations).