Shenzhou 11
![]() Mockup of Shenzhou 11 spacecraft (right) docking with the Tiangong-2 (left) | |
Operator | China National Space Administration (CNSA) |
---|---|
COSPAR ID | 2016-061A |
SATCAT no. | 41812![]() |
Mission duration | 33 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | Shenzhou |
Manufacturer | CASC |
Crew | |
Crew size | 2 |
Members | Jing Haipeng Chen Dong |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 16 October 2016, 23:30 UTC |
Rocket | Long March 2F |
Launch site | Jiuquan LA-4/SLS |
End of mission | |
Landing date | 18 November 2016, 05:59 UTC |
Landing site | Inner Mongolia |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Docking with Tiangong-2 | |
Docking date | 18 October 2016, 17:24 UTC |
Undocking date | 14 November 2016, 4:41 UTC |
Shenzhou program |
Shenzhou 11 was a crewed spaceflight of the Shenzhou program of China, launched on 17 October 2016 (16 October UTC) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.[1] It was China's sixth crewed space mission, at 33 days,[2] it was the longest until the follow up Shenzhou 12 mission which lasted 3 months. Two days after launch, it docked with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, which had been launched on 15 September 2016.[1][3][4]
Crew[]
The crew consisted of two astronauts.[1][5] Commander Jing celebrated his 50th birthday while in orbit.[6]
Position | Crew member | |
---|---|---|
Commander | Jing Haipeng Third spaceflight | |
Operator | Chen Dong First spaceflight |
The mission selected two crew instead of three to extend supplies to increase mission length for their long duration stay.[7]
Mission[]
The Shenzhou 11 launched at 07:30 on 17 October 2016 local time (23:30 UTC on 16 October) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March 2F launch rocket.[1]
The mission's main objective was to rendezvous and dock with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory and gain experience from a 30-day residence,[5] and to test its life-support systems.[1]
In the two days after the launch, it changed its orbit five times to arrive 52 kilometres behind the Tiangong-2 space lab. It autonomously rendezvoused and docked with Tiangong-2 at 3:24 p.m. EDT on 18 October 2016, while both spacecraft were at an altitude of 393 km (244 mi).[4][8]
The crew landed successfully after the 33-day mission on 18 November 2016. The reentry module of the Shenzhou 11 spacecraft landed in Dorbod Banner, Inner Mongolia around 2:15 p.m. (China time) after undocking from the space lab on 17 November.[9]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e "China's Shenzhou 11 blasts off on space station mission". BBC News. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
- ^ Perlez, Jane (16 October 2016). "China Astronauts to Attempt Nation's Longest Space Mission". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
- ^ de Selding, Peter B. (20 June 2016). "China prepares assembly of its space station, invites collaboration through U.N." SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ^ a b Wall, Mike (19 October 2016). "Chinese Astronauts Dock with Tiangong-2 Space Lab". Space.com. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ a b Huang, Jin (8 March 2016). "Why will Shenzhou-11 carry only two astronauts to space?". People's Daily. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- ^ "China launches longest manned space mission". Reuters. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2019.
- ^ Clark, Michael (19 October 2016). "Shenzhou 11 and Tiangong 2". Space Pod. TMRO. Retrieved 25 June 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "China's Shenzhou-11 successfully docks with Tiangong-2 spacelab". CCTV America. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ Griffiths, James (18 November 2016). "Shenzhou-11 astronauts return home after China's longest-ever space mission". CNN. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
External links[]
- Live webcast (in Chinese)
- Live webcast (in English)
- 2016 in China
- Human spaceflights
- October 2016 events in China
- Shenzhou program
- Spacecraft launched in 2016
- Tiangong program