Shenzhou 7
| Mission statistics | |
|---|---|
| Mission name: | Shenzhou 7 |
| Number of crew: | 3 |
| Launch: | September 2008 Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center |
Shenzhou 7 (simplified Chinese: 神舟七号; traditional Chinese: 神舟七號; pinyin: shén zhōu qī hào) will be the third human spaceflight of the Shenzhou spacecraft and is expected to be launched in September 2008[1] on a Long March-2F (CZ-2F) launch vehicle. Among the highlights of the mission will be the first three man crew of a Chinese spacecraft and the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity. The crew of the flight has not been announced. Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, the first three indigenously launched Chinese people, are all in training for the flight. According to Liwei, they could possibly be chosen.[2] Construction of the spacecraft is reported to be proceeding smoothly, with all the separate systems delivered for integration.
The exact details of what the EVA will entail have not been revealed. New space suits for the extra vehicular activity (舱外航天服) will be used, notably made with intelligent materials (“聪明材料”).[3] The suit is designed for a spacewalk mission of up to seven hours.[4] The astronauts had been training in the out-of-capsule space suits since July 2007, and movements are seriously restricted in the suits, with a mass of more than 110 kilograms each.[5]
Only one astronaut will spacewalk and conduct some scientific experiments in the vacuum, while the two others will carefully monitor him from inside the spacecraft in order to ensure his safety.[6] For this, a hand launched small monitoring satellite will be used. The spacewalking astronaut will perform tasks such as installing equipment and "tightening screws".
References
- ^ "China to launch Shenzhou-7 in 2008". 2006-04-09. Retrieved 2007-06-18.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "China Proceeding With Assembly Shenzhou 7 Spacecraft". 2006-11-03. Retrieved 2006-11-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ http://scitech.people.com.cn/GB/4650572.html
- ^ "China's astronaut outfitters design material for spacewalk suits". Xinhua. June 1, 2007. Retrieved June 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Chinese astronauts begin training for spacewalk". People Daily Online. July 18, 2007. Retrieved August 1.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ http://mil.longhoo.net/n21412c21.aspx
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