Launch News Tiangong-1, Long March 2F, September 29, 2011

[Cosmic Penguin]

The day has come for the launch of China's first space laboratory, Tiangong-1. The 10.9 meter long spacecraft is scheduled for launch between 21:16 and 21:31 CST (13:16 - 13:31 UTC) from pad SLS-R at the Jiuquan Space Launch Center (JSLC) in Inner Mongolia, China. The Long March 2F rocket (named as the "divine arrow" by ex-Chinese leader Zhang Jiamin) will lift the 8.6 tonne spacecraft into a 350 km circular orbit inclined ~42 degrees to the equator within 11 minutes. Tiangong-1 carries a 3.35 meter diameter, ~6.5 meters long pressurized module that allows future astronauts (or "taikongnauts" :lol to do experiments and live in the compartment for up to a month. The compartment is full of equipment, from control systems to two fully equipped sleeping compartments. At its front is the docking system (using the APAS-89 system used on Mir and the Space Shuttle during the 1990s) that allows for docking with Shenzhou spacecrafts.

The launch will most probably be carried live on CCTV (the state television channels). Here is the link to CCTV's English channel (actually quite good by international standards!): http://english.cntv.cn/live/

I will post more information about TG-1, the upcoming SZ-8 docking mission and other details later. In the meantime, enjoy the links!

Links:

Chinese Manned Space Engineering Office

CCTV English News Report: Tiangong-1 space module to launch Thursday


CCTV English News Report: Camera records rocket launching.

Xinhua News: Long March rocket fueled to launch Tiangong-1 space module

Rui Barbosa, NASASpaceflight.com: China preparing for major human space flight milestone of TianGong-1 launch

Pictures:

 

[orb]

SPACE.com: China's Tiangong 1 Space Lab: Questions & Answers

 

[tl8]

That News reader sounds like Frank Warwick. He was an old Australian TV News reader...

 

[IronRain]

The coverage has started on the link provided by Galactic Penguin SST

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Some pictures of TG-1 being tested before launch:

 

[Jarvitä]

Poor video quality, the announcer has a near-incomprehensible accent. :facepalm:

Edit: T-9 minutes

---------- Post added at 01:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 PM ----------

LIFT-OFF!

---------- Post added at 01:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:17 PM ----------

Good booster and 1st stage separation.

---------- Post added at 01:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:20 PM ----------

Fairing sep.

 

[N_Molson]

Local TV channel showed a 2 minutes live footage of the liftoff, that's pretty rare ! Took a capture :

 

[Jarvitä]

Tiangong-1 has separated from the launch vehicle and has entered orbit!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

S/C separation! Congratulations!

 

[Jarvitä]

Tiangong-1 has now deployed its solar arrays and established contact with the chinese TDRS constellation.

Now on CNTV: Launch replays with patriotic music and clapping party functionaries.

---------- Post added at 01:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:30 PM ----------

Footage from Beijing mission control

Edit2: Mission commander announced complete success of the launch.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

For those who missed the launch:

 

[IronRain]

I have a launch video for you

EDIT: :ninja: :lol:

 

[shangding]

:thumbup:GOOD

 

[N_Molson]

SpaceFlight Now :

Chinese rocket successfully launches mini-space lab

China's Long March 2F rocket successfully launched the Tiangong 1 module at 1316 GMT (9:16 a.m. EDT) today to begin assembly of a miniature space station and demonstrate orbital rendezvous and docking technology.


(to be developped, I think)

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

That's quick!

 

[N_Molson]

Sorry if it is covered above, but do we have the date (or the month) of the first scheduled manned docking mission to this module ?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Sorry if it is covered above, but do we have the date (or the month) of the first scheduled manned docking mission to this module ?

Sheng Zhou 8 (unmanned) - second half of 2011;
Sheng Zhou 9 (manned) - first half of 2012;
Sheng Zhou 10 (manned) - second half of 2012;

Will all dock to Tiangong.

 

[Jarvitä]

Sheng Zhou 8 (unmanned) - second half of 2011;
Sheng Zhou 9 (manned) - first half of 2012;
Sheng Zhou 10 (manned) - second half of 2012;

Will all dock to Tiangong.

Or try to, in any case.

 

[Scruce]

Or try to, in any case.

Well, docking technology is much better today than when it was in the 60's when the USA and USSR attempted their first dockings.

Let's hope it all works!

 

[Izack]

Well, docking technology is much better today than when it was in the 60's when the USA and USSR attempted their first dockings.

Let's hope it all works!

Still, all that experience lies only in the USA and Russia. China is a new player here. Not intending to cast doubt on their abilities, though.