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

[diogom]

Right before docking:

 

[Donamy]

looked like a crash docking.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Hard mate!

 

[4throck]

Nice transmission from CCTV with zoom views of the control center screens. Good to check ground stations and other data . Also everithing has a more open / civilian feel than previous missions (although there are military around as should be expected).

 

[Jarvitä]

Oh and BTW, here's an article on how the Chinese describe this mission as some kind of, erm, "human interaction".

In the most popular metaphor, Chinese media describe the upcoming rendezvous and docking attempt as a "kiss in space" between the unmanned spacecraft Shenzhou-8 and space lab module Tiangong-1.

It just so happens "space docking" is also the euphemism for a somewhat less tasteful act of 'human interaction'. :rofl:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

It just so happens "space docking" is also the euphemism for a somewhat less tasteful act of 'human interaction'. :rofl:

Remember that the two spacecrafts use the APAS docking system... :lol:

 

[lindemherz]

It just so happens "space docking" is also the euphemism for a somewhat less tasteful act of 'human interaction'. :rofl:

Just ask Shatalov and Volynov about that :thumbup:

 

[Donamy]

Docking is easy, I do it all the time. ...oh wait.

Never mind.:facepalm:

 

[Scruce]

Xinhuanet released a 'how it happened' for the first Chinese docking:

 

[N_Molson]

Nice, they made it at the first attempt ! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

Video of the docking

SPACE.com: China Succeeds in First Space Docking by 2 Spaceships

Spaceflight Now:

• Chinese docking system based on Russian design
• Successful docking catapults China into elite space club

 

[Notebook]

BBC has woken up:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15562928

N.

 

[Jarvitä]

Was the capture played back in fast forward, or did they basically perform a crash-docking? I know I wouldn't want to sit in either Tiangong or Shenzhou when they smashed together. :uhh:

At least they remembered to play Chinese patriotic music this time around.

 

[Wood]

The docking was via APAS which requires enough force to latch the capture ring. The US Space Shuttle and the ISS both have huge masses, so a slow approach is sufficient. The Chinese spacecraft were only several tonnes each, so they need to move a fair bit faster to ensure capture. This is one of the reasons why the US has been working on the Low Impact Docking System for Orion and the International Docking Standard.

 

[N_Molson]

:hesaid:

On the animation, it seems that the main thrusters are firing briefly just before and during the impact, as if the spacecraft was "ramming". Seems like a normal planned manoeuver.

And short after the station's thrusters fire a small burst, in order to negate the effect of the impact on the orbit.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Great work China!

Interesting that they chose APAS - if China wanted to go to the ISS, that would limit them to docking at the US Segment (which would never be allowed under current policy). I wonder what would happen if China switched to probe & cone, and Russia announced that China would be allowed to dock at the Russian Segment. Would the US be able to object? Would Taikonauts be banned from entering the US Segment? Interesting to consider.

 

[Wishbone]

There's a small (?) flake of debris peeling off the station in the movie, looks like at least some extra re-design thinking is in order. Re: Chinese docking at the RS - guess taikonauts will be too busy doing military work in Tiangong to have time (and inclination) for flights to the ISS.

 

[Grover]

not half bad for a first attempt eh?

how long before the ISS has some competition? PRoCSS (People's Republic of China Space Station) is already two modules strong! (even though one is the "Soyuz" of this station)

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Just a short reminder, Shenzhou 8 will undock from Tiangong 1 later today (last I heard it will happen sometime around 11:30 UTC), retreat to a distance of 140 meters, and attempt re-docking in sunlight. This will test the docking sensors in daylight conditions. Stay tuned for more news!

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

The undocking & re-docking has successfully occurred! :thumbup: