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Shenzhou: A Model Program
Sydney - Nov. 15, 2000 Nevertheless, some useful information has emerged from studying these replicas. The models confirm that Shenzhou does indeed sport two sets of extendible solar panels, a point that was not entirely apparent when the first flight was made. The main propulsion system for Shenzhou has four thrust chambers, and is very different from anything found at the rear of a Russian Soyuz. The arrangement of manoeuvering thrusters on the orbital module is also peculiar, and suggests that this module is designed for extensive in-orbit manoeuvering after separating from the rest of the vehicle. This capability could have been included for several reasons. The module could be designed to operate as a long-duration satellite after the crewed portion of a Shenzhou mission has come to an end. It could be intended that orbital sections from Shenzhou will be docked to a future Chinese space station, where they could be used as add-on crew modules, or act as reboost systems. It is also possible that this advanced orbital module represents an intermediate test phase for a more sophisticated space station module that will evolve from it. The Chinese will gain engineering experience by testing station subsystems in the orbital module, even through they are not really needed on these missions, then duplicate them in future projects. The strangest development of all, though, is the structure placed at the front of Shenzhou's orbital module. Inspection of television footage of Shenzhou's first mission had provided much information on the overall structure of the Shenzhou spacecraft, but had left analysts wondering about the front of the spacecraft. Would it sport a Russian docking system, similar to one flown on Soyuz? Would the Chinese interchange experiment packages for the docking modules on missions where no rendezvous would take place? Unfortunately, analysis of these models has left some analysts more confused than they were before. The structure at the front of the Shenzhou models is unlike anything previously spotted on the top of a crew-carrying spacecraft. This collection of beams and arced structures isn't even symmetrical. The Chinese haven't even said what it is for. The apparatus could be equipment designed to conduct experiments during the flight, or monitor the performance of the vehicle in the space environment. Nobody is really sure, and it's not even clear if what we see in the models actually flew on the first Shenzhou mission. It could be that this represents a half-and-half view of two different and interchangable payloads for this module. One half of the structure is a ring that could be a part of a docking system. In the full version, this could be a complete circle that serves as a forward shock absorber and alignment guide. The other half, a rectangular package with deployable booms, could be a generic representation of an external instrument pallet that could fly on missions without a docking apparatus. China has certainly managed to fill some of the vacuum generated by their lack of subsequent missions with the distribution of these models. They have generated interest in the program within the aerospace community, and also entertained many space observers. They're also relatively cheap to build. In this regard, they probably achieve more propaganda value in terms of money spent than an actual mission. At some point, China may also choose to market scale models of Shenzhou to the general public, as they have already done with their Long March rockets. However, interest will only be sustained in the long term through the launch of more actual spacecraft. Morris Jones is a Sydney, Australia-based consultant and journalist. He can be contacted at morrisojnes@[email protected]. Replace @NOSPAM@ with a single @ to send email.
Encyclopedia Astronautica: Shenzhou Shenzhou by Sven Grahn SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express 
China Pushing Ahead With Plans To Put Its Astronauts In Space
Zhuhai (AFP) Nov. 7, 2000China is determined to succeed with its fledgling space program and is planning to build a space station capable of carrying out both civil and military research. However, Chinese officials say they will take no safety risks in the program, which has fueled a patriotic propaganda campaign some 40 years after the first manned space flights by the United States and former Soviet Union.
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