China to launch Shenzhou-7 spacecraft tomorrow
24/9/2008 17:27
China will launch its third manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 from Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province in the northwest tomorrow, a
spokesperson with China's manned space program said today.
The launch window
was set between 9:07 pm to 10:27 pm (Beijing Time), said Wang Zhaoyao.
One of
the major tasks of the mission would be extravehicular activity (EVA), or known
as space walk, the first of its kind attempted by Chinese taikonauts
(astronauts), the official said.
Other tasks included the release of a small
monitoring satellite and trials of satellite data relay, said Wang, also deputy
director of China's manned space program office.
The Shenzhou-7, carrying
three taikonauts, will be launched on a Long-March II-F carrier rocket and then
moved into orbit at an altitude of 343 kilometers.
Two taikonauts would enter
the orbital module, where they would put on EVA spacesuits and prepare for the
extravehicular activities. One taikonaut would be donned with Chinese-made
Feitian EVA suit and the other with a Russian Orlan suit.
"One taikonaut will
get out of the cabin and take back the test samples loaded outside the module,"
Wang said.
"After the EVA is completed, the spacecraft will release a small
monitoring satellite. A trial of the data relay of satellite Tianlian I will
also be carried out," Wang said.
The Shenzhou-7 is scheduled to land in the
central area of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China after its
mission is completed, Wang said.
Wang said compared with the previous two
manned space missions, the Shenzhou-7 faced unprecedented technical
difficulties.
"EVA is a big leap for the manned space program," he said.
China had made a series of technical breakthroughs, including the research and
development of an airlock module and EVA suit.
It would also be more
demanding and risky than previous missions, he said.
"The process of
extravehicular activities cannot be simulated completely on the ground and some
of the newly developed products are to be tested in flight for the first time,"
Wang said.
During the mission, taikonauts would need to assemble and test the
EVA suits, depressurize and repressurize the cabin, exit and re-enter the
orbital module.
"The capability and skills of the taikonauts and the quality
of their operations directly determine the result of the mission," Wang
said.
The Shenzhou-7 crew had finished their last rehearsal and a final check
of the spacecraft, rocket and ground observation and control system had been
completed.
The crew is scheduled to meet the press at Jiuquan launch center
5:30 pm today.
In 2003, China became the third country after the United
States and Russia to send a human into orbit. It followed with a two-man mission
in 2005.
Xinhua
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