Fwd: China launches 5th manned space mission

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Date: June 11, 2013 10:07:32 PM GMT-06:00
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Subject: FW: China launches 5th manned space mission

Shenzhou-10 spacecraft blasts off

English.news.cn   2013-06-11 17:40:31   The Long March-2F carrier rocket carrying China's manned Shenzhou-10 spacecraft blasts off from the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 11, 2013. (Xinhua/Li Gang) JIUQUAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft, on a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Tuesday afternoon. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) attends a see-off ceremony for Chinese astronauts of an upcoming manned space mission at the astronauts' apartment building in the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 11, 2012. The three astronauts are Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) JIUQUAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping attended a see-off ceremony for Chinese astronauts of an upcoming manned space mission on Tuesday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, where he is scheduled to watch the launch of the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft. Xi, who has just wrapped up his trip to Latin America and the United States and returned to China on Sunday, came into the astronauts' apartment building on Tuesday afternoon to see off Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping, who are due to start their journey to space at 5:38 p.m..Full story

 

Pictures>> Shenzhou-10 astronauts attend setting-out ceremony Astronauts Nie Haisheng (R), Zhang Xiaoguang (C) and Wang Yaping attend the setting-out ceremony of the manned Shenzhou-10 mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 11, 2013. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Shenzhou-10 to conduct application-orientated flight JIUQUAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft will start China's application-orientated flight for the country's space program, a spokeswoman with China's manned space program said Monday. In the upcoming mission, the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft powered by a Long March-2F carrier rocket will transport astronauts and supplies to the orbiting space module Tiangong-1, spokeswoman Wu Ping told a press conference.Full story Life cozier in China's space module Tiangong-1 JIUQUAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The three astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft will enjoy a more comfortable environment on the Tiangong-1, a target orbiter and space module, compared with the last manned mission. Wu Ping, spokeswoman for China's manned space program, told a press briefing Monday that waste processing facilities on Tiangong-1 will be improved and the crew will be provided with a variety of food.Full story Pictures>> Three astronauts of Shenzhou-10 mission meet media The three astronauts of the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft mission, Nie Haisheng (C), Zhang Xiaoguang (R) and Wang Yaping, meet the media at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 10, 2013. The Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft will be launched at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 5:38 p.m. Beijing Time (0938 GMT) June 11. (Xinhua/Wang Jianmin) Tiangong-1 ready for docking and entry: spokeswoman JIUQUAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Orbiter Tiangong-1 is ready and in position for the Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft mission, Wu Ping, spokeswoman for China's manned space program, said Monday. The Tiangong-1, a target orbiter and space module sent to space in September 2011, has entered the docking orbit. And its equipment is in normal condition and there is enough fuel to complete the new mission, Wu said.Full story Shenzhou-10 mission to teach students in orbit JIUQUAN, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Astronauts on board the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft will teach students through a live video feed system while in orbit, Wu Ping, spokeswoman for China's manned space program, said Monday. It is the first time Chinese astronauts will give a lesson to middle and elementary school students while in orbit, Wu told a press conference ahead of the launch, which is scheduled for 5:38 p.m. Beijing Time Tuesday.Full story Copyright ©2013 Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved. ===============================================================

Shenzhou-10 spacecraft enters designated orbit

English.news.cn   2013-06-11 17:49:40

JIUQUAN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft, with three astronauts on board, entered its designated orbit on Tuesday afternoon.

The spacecraft, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 5:38 p.m.. 

Copyright ©2013 Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved.

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China launches 5th manned space mission

06/11/2013 06:13 AM 

Editor's note:

Pre-flight quotes and other mission details are based on accounts posted by the Xinhua news agency and CCTV, China Central Television.

By WILLIAM HARWOOD
CBS News

A Shenzhou spacecraft carrying a crew of three, including China's second female astronaut, streaked into orbit Tuesday and set off after a prototype space station module for a planned two-week mission.

China's fifth manned spaceflight got underway at 5:38 a.m. EDT (GMT-4; 5:38 p.m. local time) when a Long March-2F rocket thundered away from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the north central region of the country.

A Long March-2F rocket carries the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft away from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Tuesday, kicking off China's fifth manned space mission. (Credit: CCTV)

Strapped into the Shenzhou 10 command module were mission commander Nie Haisheng, 48, veteran of a 2005 flight; Zhang Xiaoguang, a 47-year-old Air Force pilot making his first space mission; and Wang Yaping, 33, a transport pilot and the second female astronaut in China's space corps.

The climb to space appeared to go smoothly, with live television from inside the command module showing all three crew members smiling and occasionally waving at the camera.

A bit less than 10 minutes after liftoff, the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft was released into its planned preliminary orbit and a few moments after that, live television from a camera mounted on the hull of the spacecraft showed solar array deployment.

"The Shenzhou 10 spacecraft has entered its orbit," Zhang Youxia, chief commander of China's manned space engineering project, said through a translator. "Its crew is in a fine state. Now I announce the launch of the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft successful."

If all goes well, the ship will dock with the Tiangong 1 -- "Heavenly Palace" -- habitation module later this week.

The Shenzhou 10 mission "carries the space dream of the Chinese nation," President Xi Jinping told the crew before launch. "It will also show the Chinese passion to reach for the stars and reach into space. You have made all of us very proud."

A camera inside the Shenzhou 10 command module shows mission commander Nie Haisheng, center, flanked by Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping, China's second female astronaut, during the climb to orbit. (Credit: CCTV)

Wu Ping, official spokeswoman for China's manned space program, said the crew planned to carry out two dockings with Tiangong 1, using both manual and automatic procedures.

"So far, we only conducted three automatic docking tests and a manual one," Wu told reporters before launch. "More tests are needed. We also need to further prove that our astronauts are fit for a longer stay in space and the orbiters are able to support their life and work."

Nie and his crewmates also plan to carry out a battery of experiments and Wang will host a live broadcast from the Tiangong 1 module to show Chinese students what life is like in orbit.

"I'll demonstrate some physics experiments done in the space environment, Wang told CCTV. "As an astronaut, I'm also a learner, like those students. I think we'll learn together and have a great time in space."

Wu said the goal is to "bring the space program closer to the young generation, improve their understanding and attract their interests in our work."

The crew also hopes to enjoy a bit of down time in orbit, a luxury given the busy timelines and rigid safety policies followed by earlier crews.

"After finishing our daily duties, we'll have time to relax and do things, like appreciate the beautiful view of space and listen to some music," said Nie.

A camera mounted on the hull of the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft shows the limb of the Earth in the background as the vehicle slipped into orbit. (Credit: CCTV)

Added Zhang: "I will look at our beautiful planet, our beautiful homeland. I can find out whether it is possible to see the Yangtze River and Yellow River. I can take a look at the deep universe and shining stars. I feel very excited."

For her part, Wang said she was "very honored to have this chance to represent China in space and realize the Chinese dream. I'm confident that we can complete this mission successfully."

The Shenzhou 10 flight is the latest in a series of incremental steps laying the groundwork for assembly of a much larger Mir-class space station around the end of the decade, the stated goal of China's manned space program.

Following a deliberate, step-by-step approach to that long-term objective, China became the third nation, after the United States and the Soviet Union/Russia, to launch a manned spacecraft in October 2003 when Yang Liwei blasted off aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft.

Shenzhou 6, carrying two crew members, was successfully launched in October 2005 and Shenzhou 7, carrying a three-man crew, flew in September 2008.

In September 2011, Tiangong 1 was launched to serve as a target for rendezvous and docking missions. One month after the solar-powered module reached orbit, China launched the unmanned Shenzhou 8 spacecraft, which carried out an automated rendezvous and televised docking with the research module two days later.

China followed that flight by launching two men and a woman on the Shenzhou 9 mission in June 2012. They carried out the program's first manned rendezvous and docking.

Joan Johnson-Freese, an expert on China's space program, said the latest mission will continue "the plan," gathering the experience needed to build the larger station later this decade.

"After this, they supposedly will move on to Tiangong 2, which will allow them to keep a crew of three in orbit for 20 days," she told CBS News. "It's all building to part three, which is the 20-ton space station they will launch when they have the capability to launch it on the Long March 5 (rocket)."

Tiangong 1 measures 34 feet long, 11 feet wide and weighs about 8.5 tons. It features a pressurized experiment module where visiting crews can live and work and a "resource module" housing electrical, propulsion and life support systems.

The space station the Chinese hope to build later this decade will consist of four or more modules linked together.

For comparison, the International Space Station operated by the United States, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan, would cover a football field, weighs more than 450 tons and has a multi-module pressurized volume comparable to a 747 jumbo jet. It has been staffed with rotating crews of up to six astronauts and cosmonauts for the past 13 years.

© 2011 William Harwood/CBS News

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Groundhog Day for Shenzhou 10
by Dr Morris Jones
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jun 11, 2013

Shenzhou 10 is expected to fly independently in orbit for roughly two days while it chases the Tiangong 1 laboratory module. The three astronauts on board the spacecraft will adjust to life in space and put their vehicle through its paces. When all is judged ready, Shenzhou 10 will approach Tiangong 1 and the two vehicles will eventually dock.

The launch of China's Shenzhou 10 spacecraft has capped a nominal sequence of preparing and rolling out its Long March 2F launch vehicle to its pad at Jiuquan. The lead-up to this launch has followed a predictable course, both in the activities and the timing of key steps in the process.

We have seen so many Shenzhou missions readied for flight that we are now fairly sure of what to expect. In some ways, the launch of Shenzhou 10 is like the Bill Murray movie "Groundhog Day", where the same events are repeated in a time loop on the same day. Like Murray's character, China is also getting better with each cycle.

China seems to have settled on the basic design of the Shenzhou spacecraft and the procedures for launching it, although they still continue to make minor adjustments to the hardware for successive launches.

This suggests that the overall modus of the program works well. At some point in the future, China may elect to speed up or streamline the way certain pre-launch events are carried out, but we can probably expect the current practices to remain in place for a few years.

Shenzhou 10 is expected to fly independently in orbit for roughly two days while it chases the Tiangong 1 laboratory module. The three astronauts on board the spacecraft will adjust to life in space and put their vehicle through its paces. When all is judged ready, Shenzhou 10 will approach Tiangong 1 and the two vehicles will eventually dock.

The two-day flight to Tiangong was previously demonstrated on the uncrewed Shenzhou 8 mission and the Shenzhou 9 mission, which carried the first crew to this laboratory. It's a flight profile that's reminiscent of a typical flight of a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station, which normally takes roughly the same time.

Recently, Soyuz missions to the Station were fast-tracked to allow docking roughly six hours after launch, and two Soyuz craft have already flown this mission profile. It's possible that Shenzhou spacecraft will eventually dock more quickly, but this analyst does not expect China to change its two-day plan in the near future.

The mission of Shenzhou 10 is off to a good start, but challenges lie ahead. Rendezvous and docking is always tricky and potentially dangerous, even to space programs with decades of experience. This mission will also test the performance of the Shenzhou spacecraft beyond any previous crewed mission.

Analysts will also watch the landing of Shenzhou 10 closely. Its predecessor returned to Earth safely, but experienced a bumpy touchdown. Hopefully the crew of Shenzhou 10 will enjoy a smoother ride home.

Dr Morris Jones is an Australian space analyst who has covered the Shenzhou program for spacedaily.com since 1999. Email morrisjonesNOSPAMhotmail.com. Replace NOSPAM with @ to send email. Dr Jones will answer media inquiries.

 

Copyright 1995-2012 - Space Media Network.

 

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Blast Off! Chinese Astronauts Launch Into Orbit

by Miriam Kramer, SPACE.com Staff Writer

11 June 2013 Time: 05:39 AM ET

 

 

Three Chinese astronauts blasted into space June 11, 2013 on the nation's fifth manned space mission. CREDIT: CCTV View full size image

A Chinese rocket roared into space Tuesday (June 11) carrying a crew of three is on its way to the nation's space module orbiting Earth.

The trio of astronauts — two men and a woman — blasted off aboard their Shenzhou 10 spacecraft toward the Tiangong 1 module from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert at 5:38 a.m. EDT (9:38 GMT) — 5:38 p.m. local time.

Shenzhou 10's astronauts Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping — the second female Chinese spaceflyer — are the fifth Chinese crew to launch into space. The Long March 2F rocket carrying the three spaceflyers is the heaviest ever launched by the nation. [China's Shenzhou 10 Mission in Photos]

The Shenzhou 10 crew is set to dock with the Tiangong 1 module (also called the Heavenly Palace 1) twice during the course of its 15 day mission, Wu Ping, a spokeswoman for China's manned space program said during a briefing on Monday. One docking will be manual, the other automatic, Wu added.

"So far we only conducted three automatic docking tests and a manual one," Wu said, according to state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua. "More tests are needed. We also need to further prove that our astronauts are fit for a longer stay in space and the orbiters are able to support their life and work."

Shenzhou 10 marks China's fifth manned space mission.
CREDIT: CCTV

View full size image

During their time in space, Nie, Zhang and Wang are scheduled to beam a science lesson down to students on Earth from orbit, and test the performance and efficiency of humans and technology in space.

A view inside China's Mission Control center in Beijing during the Shenzhou 10 launch June 11, 2013.
CREDIT: CCTV

View full size image

The relatively small Tiangong 1 module has been in Earth's orbit since September 2011. The 8.5-ton structure is about half of the mass of the world's first space station — the Soviet Union's Salyut 1 — and the International Space Station is about 400 metric tons by comparison, Marcia Smith, editor of SpacePolicyOnline.com, wrote in a recent posting.

The first Chinese three-person crew docked to the Tiangong 1 module in June 2012. Before the Shenzhou 10 mission, eight other Chinese astronauts made the trip to space. The first Chinese astronaut, Yang Liwei, launched into orbit in 2003.

Chinese media is reporting that this latest journey marks the last of three planned missions to master space rendezvous and docking. Shenzhou 10 is part of China's plan to gain the experience necessary to build and operate a large space station by around 2020, officials have said.

Xinhua has reported that the larger station will be composed of three capsules: Two laboratories and a core unit. The orbiting habitat is expected to weigh more than 90 tons.

Both Zhang and Wang have never flown to space before, but Nie flew for just under five days during the Shenzhou 6 mission in 2005.

After the United States and Russia, China is the third country to launch astronauts into space on its own vehicles.

 

Copyright © 2013 TechMediaNetwork.com All rights reserved.

 

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Shenzhou 10 Explained: Crew of Three Chinese Astronauts Head to Space Lab (Infographic)

by Karl Tate, SPACE.com Infographics Artist

10 June 2013 Time: 05:30 PM ET

 

Three Chinese astronauts will fly a 15-day mission to inhabit the Tiangong 1 space station. China's second female astronaut, Wang Yaping, will give lectures to middle and elementary school students while in orbit.

Nie Haisheng is the mission's commander. Born in 1964, he flew on Shenzhou 6 in 2005.

Wang Yaping is China's second female astronaut. She was born in 1980.

Zhang Xiaoguang is the mission's pilot, responsible for conducting the rendezvous and docking with the Tiangong station. He was born in 1966.

The Shenzhou 10 spacecraft consists of three main modules. The Re-entry module houses the three astronauts for launch and landing.

The Orbital module on the nose of the spacecraft can be left in space to operate automatically after the astronauts return to Earth.

In the rear of Shenzhou is the Service module, containing fuel and the main rocket engines.

The Tiangong 1 station orbits at an altitude of 221 to 225 miles (356 to 362 kilometers) and an inclination to Earth's equator of 42 degrees.

Shenzhou 10 launches on a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan satellite launch center in the Gobi Desert on June 11, 2013, at 5:38 p.m., Beijing time (5:38 a.m. EDT, 0938 GMT).

 

Copyright © 2013 TechMediaNetwork.com All rights reserved.

 

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Canadian Superstar Astronaut Hadfield Announces Retirement

by Elizabeth Howell, SPACE.com Contributor

10 June 2013 Time: 03:44 PM ET

 

 

On June 10, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield announced his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency and government service. His resignation takes effect July 3. CREDIT: Canadian Space Agency (webcast) View full size image

Rock star astronaut Chris Hadfield, just returned from a five-month stint in orbit, will be hanging up his spacesuit for a new adventure, the Canadian spaceflyer announced today (June 10).

Hadfield, who picked up more than a million Twitter followers while commanding the International Space Station's Expedition 35 mission, announced June 10 that he will retire from the Canadian Space Agency.

"I've decided to retire from government service after 35 years of serving our country," said Hadfield, who began his career as an air cadet, progressed to military flying for entities such as NORAD, and then became an astronaut in 1992. He and two crewmates landed aboard a Russian spacecraft May 13 in Kazakhstan on their return trip from the space station. [Astronaut Chris Hadfield's 8 Most Amazing Space Moments]

The 53-year-old added that he did not want to be an obstacle for the two younger Canadian astronauts waiting for flights, David Saint-Jacques and Jeremy Hansen. Canada isn't expected to have a chance to send another crewmember to the station until at least 2016.

"I didn't say I don't want to do this anymore, but every one of us is going to retire. This is just a natural part of the process," Hadfield said during a Canadian Space Agency press conference today.

Hadfield will leave the agency July 3, two days after he performs a concert on Ottawa's Parliament Hill during Canada's national holiday (the astronaut moonlights as a musician, and even played weightless guitar on orbit). Afterward, Hadfield plans to move back to Canada (he currently lives in Houston, near NASA's astronaut office at the Johnson Space Center) and to take his time deciding what to do next.

In a radio interview this weekend, however, Hadfield hinted spaceflight may still be in the cards.

'I'm not sure the fat lady has sung'

On June 10, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield announced his retirement from the Canadian Space Agency and government service. His resignation takes effect July 3.
CREDIT: Credit: Canadian Space Agency (webcast)

View full size image

Hadfield emphasized during the press conference that he has not formulated his plans yet. On a Canadian national radio program two days ago, however, he expressed interest in private commercial ventures.

In Hadfield's last decade as an astronaut, private firms such as Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, XCOR Aerospace and others began seriously developing and testing spacecraft of their own. Virgin's SpaceShipTwo could fly people to the edge of space this year or in 2014, as long as test flights continue to stay on pace.

"I'm not sure the fat lady has sung," Hadfield said of his spaceflying career on CBC Radio's Quirks & Quarks program June 8. But he said he would be "very surprised" if he could fly with the CSA again, given there are two younger astronauts waiting for spots. Commercial spaceflight, however, was a possibility, he added. [Hadfield Hits: How To Shave In Space | Video]

"With all the commercial spaceflight that's going on, who knows? John Glenn flew on a second flight when he was well into an advanced stage of his life," Hadfield said, referring to a space shuttle flight the Mercury program astronauttook at age 77. "We'll see what opportunities will come."

During today's press conference, Hadfield said his first priority will be physical and psychological recovery. It typically takes nine months for an astronaut returning from a five- to six-month station stay to feel normal again. Hadfield also said he doesn't want to make the mistake of trying to decide his next step too quickly.

For the near future, he anticipates some public appearances and continuing to work with students, as he did during several science chats and concerts from orbit.

"I've tried to live a life that makes sense, and has logical steps that will be interesting and productive, and so I don't try to make snap decisions," Hadfield said.

Social media success

Hadfield's primary considerations as Expedition 35 commander were the health and safety of his crew, as well as to ensure science was performed on the station, he has said. In all three counts, he succeeded.

Despite a tricky last-minute spacewalk to repair an ammonia leak, Hadfield's crewmates all returned to Earth eager to go back up again, he said. Their productivity in science experiments also set a record.

The three-time spaceflyer said this flight was different, however, as social media allowed him to easily reach audiences on Earth.

Hadfield took full advantage of the opportunity. He played several concerts from orbit, recorded more than 140 educational videos, took 45,000 pictures and conducted several press conferences and school chats. He launched Dec. 19 with 21,000 Twitter followers, and reached a million followers a few days ago.

Hadfield's work also received accolades from celebrities ranging from Star Trek's William Shatner to David Bowie, who endorsed a version of "Space Oddity" that Hadfield performed on the station.

"[My mission] included millions of people around the world," Hadfield said. "We as a combined force reached a level of public involvement and public interest which was unprecedented."

Hadfield said he is happy to leave the CSA under the helm of acting president Gilles Leclerc, and will move back to Canada to follow a promise made to his wife that they would return to their home country.

"My feet are getting used to the ground again, and we'll see," he said. "I'm interested to see, with my feet firmly planted back in Canada, what the future will bring."

Copyright © 2013 TechMediaNetwork.com All rights reserved.

 

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Chinese spacecraft blasts off with 3 astronauts

By ANDY WONG | Associated Press 

View Photo

Reuters/Reuters - Chinese astronauts (from L to R) Zhang Xiaoguang, Nie Haisheng and Wang Yaping salute in a re-entry capsule during a training at Beijing Aerospace City in Beijing, April 29, 2013. REUTERS …more 

JIUQUAN, China (AP) — China's latest manned spacecraft successfully blasted off Tuesday on a 15-day mission to dock with a space lab and educate young people about science.

The Shenzhou 10 capsule carrying three astronauts lifted off as scheduled at 5:38 p.m. (0938 GMT) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on the edge of the Gobi Desert.

It is China's fifth manned space mission and its longest. The spacecraft was launched aboard a Long March 2F rocket and will transport the crew to the Tiangong 1, which functions as an experimental prototype for a much larger Chinese space station to be launched in 2020. The craft will spend 12 days docked with the Tiangong.

On the heels of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's wildly popular YouTube videos from the International Space Station, the Chinese crew plans to deliver a series of talks to students from aboard the Tiangong.

The craft carried two men, mission commander Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang, and China's second female astronaut, Wang Yaping.

Earlier in the afternoon, President Xi Jinping was shown live on television wishing them well at the launch center.

"You have made Chinese people feel proud of ourselves," Xi told the three astronauts. "You have trained and prepared yourselves carefully and thoroughly, so I am confident in your completing the mission successfully.

"I wish you success and look forward to your triumphant return."

State television showed Xi watching the launch, as well as Premier Li Keqiang who was at the space command center in Beijing.

The space program is a source of enormous national pride for China, reflecting its rapid economic and technological progress and ambition to rank among the world's leading nations.

China is hoping to join the United States and Russia as the only countries to send independently maintained space stations into orbit. It is already one of just three nations to have launched manned spacecraft on its own.

The space classrooms mark the boldest step so far to bring the military-backed program into the lives of ordinary Chinese and follows in the footsteps of NASA, which uses student outreach to inspire interest in space exploration and sustain support for its budgets.

At a news conference Monday, Wang said she was "eager to explore and feel the magic and splendor of space with young friends."

Her fellow astronaut Zhang told reporters they would conduct dozens of space science experiments and would "enjoy personalized space foods especially designed by our nutritionists."

 

Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 

 

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China's latest 'sacred' manned space mission blasts off

By Ben Blanchard | Reuters 

View Photo

Reuters/Reuters - The Long March 2-F rocket loaded with Shenzhou-10 manned spacecraft carrying Chinese astronauts Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping lifts off from the launch pad in the Jiuquan Satellite …more 

 

By Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese manned spacecraft blasted off with three astronauts on board on Tuesday on a 15-day mission to an experimental space lab in the latest step towards the development of a space station.

The Shenzhou 10 spacecraft was launched from a remote site in the Gobi desert in China's far west at 5:38 p.m. (0938 GMT) under warm, clear blue skies, in images carried live on state television.

Once in orbit, the craft will dock with the Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) 1, a trial space laboratory module, and the two male and one female astronauts will carry out various experiments and test the module's systems.

They will also give a lecture to students back on Earth.

China successfully carried out its first manned docking exercise with Tiangong 1 last June, a milestone in an effort to acquire the technological and logistical skills to run a full space station that can house people for long periods.

President Xi Jinping oversaw Tuesday's launch personally, addressing the astronauts before they blasted off to wish them success, saying he was "enormously happy" to be there.

"You are the pride of the Chinese people, and this mission is both glorious and sacred," Xi said, according to state media.

This mission will be the longest time Chinese astronauts have spent in space, and marks the second mission for lead astronaut Nie Haisheng.

It is China's fifth manned space mission since 2003, and was accompanied by the usual outpouring of national pride and Communist Party propaganda, including children dressed as happy ethnic minorities waving off the three at the space centre.

However, some wondered why China was spending so much money exploring space when it was still a developing country with a plethora of more pressing issues, from food safety and pollution to the prevalence of workplace fire disasters.

"Why don't they spend this money solving China's real problems instead of wasting it like this?" wrote one user on China's popular Twitter-like service, Sina Weibo.

China's space program has come a long way since late leader Mao Zedong, founder of Communist China in 1949, lamented that the country could not even launch a potato into space.

But China is still far from catching up with the established space superpowers, the United States and Russia.

Rendezvous and docking techniques such as those which China is only testing now were mastered by the United States and the former Soviet Union decades ago, and the 10.5 meter-long Tiangong 1 is a trial module, not a fully fledged space station.

Still, the Shenzhou 10 mission will be the latest show of China's growing prowess in space and comes while budget restraints and shifting priorities have held back U.S. manned space launches.

China also plans an unmanned moon landing and deployment of a moon rover. Scientists have raised the possibility of sending a man to the moon, but not before 2020.

While Beijing insists its space program is for peaceful purposes, a Pentagon report last month highlighted China's increasing space capabilities and said Beijing was pursuing a variety of activities aimed at preventing its adversaries from using space-based assets during a crisis.

Fears of a space arms race with the United States and other powers mounted after China blew up one of its own weather satellites with a ground-based missile in January 2007.

(Additional reporting by Hui Li; Editing by Nick Macfie)

 

Copyright © 2013 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. 

 

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