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:
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: