Shenzhou 9 Launch June 16th.

[Satanic Mechanic]

Shenzhou 9 will launch tomorrow at 6:37am PST.  I do get the CCN-TV English channel on the dish, so I wonder if the launch will be live or will they re-run it later on like they usually do?

SM

[ijuin]

What was this one's slated mission again?

[Satanic Mechanic]

They will be docking with the Tiangong-1 space station.  I read that the mission will last about a month.

[Satanic Mechanic]

Some footage of the launch and docking: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UGl1Coi0apA

[ijuin]

The Tiangong series seems to be very similar to the Salyut series in terms of their basic configuration and mission, which is probably a good thing insofar as short-lifespan (3 years or less) 2-3 crew orbital outposts go. The large station planned for a decade from now on the other hand looks to be comparable to an updated Mir design. I think that China is making a good decision in going with what is known to work (i.e. refinements of former Russian designs) for their first forays into this field--it is much cheaper and faster than doing all of the work from the ground up like the 1950s-60s US and USSR did--this is only their fourth crewed flight total and they've already reached their Salyut equivalent compared to about a dozen flights and two generations of manned capsule by the US and USSR to reach that stage.

[Satanic Mechanic]

They only spent ten days up there and they are landing tomorrow.  Kind of a short stay.

Ijuin,
You are correct, they are using the Salyut/Mir designs for their space station(s).  Their media has shown a space complex similar to Mir in the 90's as their goal.  Now I would like to see if they have developed a "Progress" spacecraft to resupply the station.

SM

[ijuin]

They have already shown that they are capable of operating a Shenzhou spacecraft remotely from the ground and docking it to a Tiangong module. To make a Progress-type craft out of it is largely a matter of giving it the necessary internal fittings for fuel, water, and coolant tanks and transfer. I don't know if Tiangong 1 has the external connectors for such transfer, or whether that is planned for a later model. I do hope though that Tiangong 2 or 3 will be continuously inhabited with dual docking ports, resupplies, and "visiting expeditions" (i.e. short time visiting crews in addition to the regular longer-term ones) similar to how the last two Salyut stations achieved.