China's Tiangong 1 was hurled into Earth orbit September 29. Credit: China Manned Space Engineering Project
China is set to conduct its first space rendezvous and docking mission.
An unpiloted Shenzhou 8 spacecraft is being readied for launch, followed by a docking to the recently launched Tiangong 1 target vehicle.
Tiangong 1—a large space module — was hurled into Earth orbit September 29.
The main tasks of Tiangong 1include: serving as a target vehicle for space rendezvous and docking experiments; to help establish a human space test platform capable of long-term unmanned operation in space with temporary human attendance; help accumulate experience for the development of China’s Space Station; as well as carry out space science, space medical, and space technology experiments.
According to Chinese space officials, Tiangong 1 will make two orbit maneuvers after launch before entering a 350 km near circular orbit and conducting in-orbit tests.
Before the blastoff of the unpiloted Shenzhou 8, Tiangong 1 will descend to a 343 km near circular orbit for the first rendezvous and docking. Within two days of the launch of Shenzhou 8, the rendezvous and docking tests with Tiangong 1will be performed.
Room for three
A crewed Shenzhou 9 spacecraft will later be lofted to carry out a subsequent rendezvous and docking with the Tiangong 1.
Tiangong 1is a newly developed spacecraft with a total length of 10.4 meters, maximum diameter of 3.35 meters and has a liftoff mass of 8.5 tons.
This space platform has a designed life span in orbit of two years. It consists of an experiment module and a resource module. The effective volume of the experiment module is about 15 cubic meters which can support a trio of astronauts.
Tiangong 1 also carries a passive docking mechanism in its front to allow spacecraft dockings. As part of the platform, a resource module provides power to energize the spacecraft.
By Leonard David