Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Shenzhou 9

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COSPAR ID
  
2012-032A

Spacecraft type
  
Shenzhou

Reference system
  
Geocentric

Mission duration
  
13 days

Launch date
  
16 June 2012

Rocket
  
Long March 2F

SATCAT no.
  
38461

Launch site
  
Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1

Regime
  
Low Earth

Dates
  
16 Jun 2012 – 29 Jun 2012

Landing date
  
29 June 2012

Crew size
  
3

Shenzhou 9 wwwspacecomimagesi000018544originalshenzh

Members
  
Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang, Liu Yang

Shenzhou 9 was the fourth manned spacecraft flight of China's Shenzhou program, launched at 18:37:24 CST (10:37:24 UTC), 16 June 2012. Shenzhou 9 was the second spacecraft and first manned spacecraft to dock with the Tiangong 1 space station, which took place on 18 June. The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft landed at 10:01:16 CST (02:01:16 UTC) on 29 June in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The mission's crew included the first Chinese female astronaut, Liu Yang. The next mission was Shenzhou 10, which launched on 11 June 2013.

Contents

Shenzhou 9 Shenzhou 9 Mission Updates Spaceflight101

History

Shenzhou 9 Tiangong1 National Space Society of Phoenix

On 12 March 2012, it was announced that the initial crew selection roster for the mission included female astronauts. The crew were unveiled to the press on 15 June. China's first female astronaut would be Liu Yang. Liu was selected ahead of her fellow female astronaut prospect Wang Yaping. This mission also featured the first repeat astronaut, Jing Haipeng, the commander of the mission. Shenzhou 9 was the 9th flight in China's Shenzhou program and the fourth manned spaceflight. The mission's launch was 49 years to the day after that of the first woman in space, cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova.

Mission preparations

Shenzhou 9 China39s space station missionSINA English

The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft arrived at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the northwestern Gobi Desert on 9 April 2012 and its carrier rocket, the Long March 2F, arrived on 9 May. On 9 June 2012, the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft and its carrier rocket were rolled out to launch pad. On 12 June 2012 underwent system-wide joint exercises, and final health checks were completed the following day.

Expedition Ceremony

Shenzhou 9 Shenzhou9 astronauts meet public in Shanghai People39s Daily Online

On June 16, 2012, the Expedition Ceremony was held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo attended the ceremony. The astronauts, Liu Wang, Liu Yang, and Jing Haipeng, rode to the launch tower and turned in the entrance with the assistance of support staff.

Mission

The Long March 2F rocket was launched on 16 June 2012 at 10:37 UTC.

Shenzhou 9 Shenzhou9 blasts off CNTV English

Shenzhou 9 docked with China's first space lab Tiangong-1 at 06:07 UTC on 18 June, marking China's first manned spacecraft rendezvous and docking. This docking was remotely controlled from a ground station. After about 3 hours, when the pressures inside the vessels were equalized, Jing Haipeng entered into Tiangong-1. Six days later, Shenzhou 9 detached from the station and then redocked manually under the control of crew member Liu Wang, making it the first manual docking for the Chinese program.

Shenzhou 9 landed by parachute in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia on 29 June 2012.

Backup crew

The backup crew for the flight was:

The backup crew later became the prime crew for Shenzhou 10.

Mission timeline

9 April 2012
  • Shenzhou 9 space capsule arrives at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre
  • 9 May 2012
  • Long March 2F space launcher arrives at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre
  • 9 June 2012
  • Launch stack rolled out to the launch pad
  • 15 June 2012
  • Crew unveiled
  • 16 June 2012
    Shenzhou 9 Shenzhou 9 crew enter Tiangong 1 Chinaorgcn

  • Launch, first woman in space for the Chinese program, first repeat traveller for the Chinese program, first manned mission to a space station for the Chinese program
  • 18 June 2012
  • First manned rendezvous for the Chinese space program.
  • Automated docking with Tiangong-1, first manned docking by the Chinese program
  • 24 June 2012
  • Shenzhou 9 undocks with Tiangong-1
  • Shenzhou 9 redocks with Tiangong-1, first manual docking by the Chinese space program, second manned docking by the program
  • 29 June 2012
  • Shenzhou 9 landed in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia.

  • Shenzhou 9

    References

    Shenzhou 9 Wikipedia