Chinese space station goal takes next step
The unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft was sent into orbit aboard a Long March-2F rocket this week. This is another step in China’s goal of setting up a manned Chinese space station. China had been unsuccessful in attempts to join the collection of countries involved with the International Space Station.
Shenzhou Spacecraft (Wikipedia image)
Third country for manned space flight
The former USSR became the first nation to put a human into space with Yuri Gagarin’s flight in 1961. This year saw the 50th anniversary of this historic event. That same year the United States sent Allan Shepard into space on a sub-orbital flight. This was followed up by John Glenn’s orbital flight in the same spacecraft in 1962.
It wasn’t until 2003 that China became the third nation to put a person into space using their own rocket and spacecraft. On October 15th of that year Yang Liwwei piloted the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft 14 orbits around the Earth.
The Shenzhou spacecraft
We’ve included an image of the Shenzhou spacecraft to the right from Wikipedia. The name Shenzhou translates roughly as ‘Divine Craft’ and had its maiden unmanned voyage on November 19, 1999.
For those that are familiar with spacecraft design you will notice how similar it is in appearance to the Russian Soyuz spacecrafts. This is due to the 1994 sale of space and aviation technology and 1995 deal for Soyuz technology from Russian to China. Despite the similar appearance the Shenzhou craft is longer and has a larger habitable volume than the Soyuz spacecraft.
Chinese Space Station
Shenzhou 8 will attempt a docking in orbit with the unmanned Tiangong 1 space laboratory module which was launched into space last month. If successful the rendezvous will pave the way for further tests. This includes a manned spacecraft docking which may result in month long stays in orbit. China is expected to become the third nation behind Russia (the former USSR) and USA to operate a permanent manned space station when construction begins between 2020 and 2022.
The future of space exploration
For decades following the start of the cold war the only two nations with capabilities to launch people into space were Russia and the United States. Both countries had historic firsts in the field of space travel. With economic power shifting in the world and the ending of the space shuttle program we are witnessing more countries stepping up to take on the task of sending people into space. As well, the burgeoning private space travel industry will ensure that keeping mankind in space will not fall to a select few organizations and governments.
This can only benefit mankind as we continue to search for resource solutions for a planet of now seven billion human beings.
©2011 Sigma Rockets and Aerospace Inc.
