Post by Al Degutis on Oct 12, 2005 7:07:40 GMT -6
Shenzhou 6 Away! China Launches Two Astronauts in Second Manned Spaceflight
Two years after making its first foray into the realm of human spaceflight, China has once again launched a manned spacecraft into Earth orbit during a successful Tuesday space shot.
Clad in space suits and tucked inside their Shenzhou 6 spacecraft, Chinese astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng left Earth behind at 9:00 p.m. EDT (0100 Oct. 12 GMT) as their 19-story Long March 2F rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, state media reported. A few minutes later, the astronauts were in orbit.
It was 9:00 a.m. local time during the space shot, which was beamed across China via live television.
Chinese premier Wen Jiabao wished the astronauts – whose identities were unveiled only hours before liftoff – well, adding that he was confident they “will accomplish the glorious and sacred mission," China’s Xinhua News Agency reported.
Fei and Nie will orbit Earth for as long as five days during the Shenzhou 6 spaceflight, China’s first two-person mission, and are expected to perform a series of experiments to advance China's understanding of human spaceflight. Their mission comes almost two years to the day of China’s first manned spaceflight, Shenzhou 5, which launched astronaut Yang Liwei on a 21 ½ hour mission on Oct. 15, 2003. China is the third nation to independently launch astronauts into orbit.
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Full story: www.space.com/missionlaunches/051011_china_shenzhou6_lnch.html
Two years after making its first foray into the realm of human spaceflight, China has once again launched a manned spacecraft into Earth orbit during a successful Tuesday space shot.
Clad in space suits and tucked inside their Shenzhou 6 spacecraft, Chinese astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng left Earth behind at 9:00 p.m. EDT (0100 Oct. 12 GMT) as their 19-story Long March 2F rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, state media reported. A few minutes later, the astronauts were in orbit.
It was 9:00 a.m. local time during the space shot, which was beamed across China via live television.
Chinese premier Wen Jiabao wished the astronauts – whose identities were unveiled only hours before liftoff – well, adding that he was confident they “will accomplish the glorious and sacred mission," China’s Xinhua News Agency reported.
Fei and Nie will orbit Earth for as long as five days during the Shenzhou 6 spaceflight, China’s first two-person mission, and are expected to perform a series of experiments to advance China's understanding of human spaceflight. Their mission comes almost two years to the day of China’s first manned spaceflight, Shenzhou 5, which launched astronaut Yang Liwei on a 21 ½ hour mission on Oct. 15, 2003. China is the third nation to independently launch astronauts into orbit.
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Full story: www.space.com/missionlaunches/051011_china_shenzhou6_lnch.html
