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China's fledgling manned space program launched an unmanned test flight late Monday at 10.15pm local time (1415 GMT), the third in a series of test flights that are expected to result in China's first manned space voyage next year. Shenzhou was launched a top the Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Space Launch Center in northwest Gansu province. China's space program, which aims to make the country the third nation to put a human into space after the United States and the former Soviet Union, is notoriously secretive and rarely publicizes launches in advance. Earlier this month Chinese state press said the third flight was imminent, while acknowledging that an astronaut would not be put into space until next year at the earliest. The third Shenzhou test flight had been delayed due to problems with "product quality", leading space administrator Hu Shixiang told the China News Service at the time. The first unmanned test flight of the Shenzhou program was in November 1999, when the Shenzhou I orbited the earth 14 times in a 21-hour mission aimed mainly at testing launch and re-entry capabilities.
Despite the unknown fate of the Shenzhou 2 lander, it's orbital module was an outstanding success. The module remained in orbit for nine months during which time several orbital maneuvers were performed along with various in orbit system tests of the module. There is considerable speculation that this module will be used as an initial rudimentary platform for China to conduct manned tendered operations in space leading eventually to its own space station later this decade. In support of this China is planning to develop a new heavy lift launcher. While such a station would not approach the sophistication of US and Russian space stations, it will provide China with a number of reconnaissance and anti-satellite related opportunities that might surprise western military planners. Meanwhile, the third unmanned test flight of the Shenzhou vehicle is proceeding with a successful orbit insertion expected to be announced soon. Related Links Dragon Space SpaceDaily Search SpaceDaily Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express 
Shenzhou Mission Remains Under Tight Wraps
Morris Jones provides detailed analysisSydney - Mar 26, 2002 The third test launch of China's Shenzhou spacecraft marks an important step in this program, but raises more questions than it answers. At a superficial level, we can see the Shenzhou program advancing at a steady pace, its third mission coming just a little longer than the gap between Shenzhou 1 and 2. China's President Attends Launch 
Beijing - Mar 26, 2002President Jiang Zemin watched the launch of spacecraft Monday night at the launch centre in Northwest China's Gansu Province. At the launch site, Jiang extended his congratulations to scientists and technologists, as well as servicemen of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). After watching the lift-off, Jiang said the successful launch showed the Chinese people's spirit of constantly striving to become stronger. Shenzhou To Launch Within Days 
Hong Kong (AFP) Mar 22, 2002China will launch the third test flight of its fledgling space program within days, sending a model of an astronaut into orbit in preparation for a future manned mission, it was reported Friday. Shenzhou-3 Design Changes Cause Lengthy Mission Delay 
Beijing - Mar 13, 2002A senior Chinese space official revealed Monday that problems with internal systems of the Shenzhou-3 (SZ-3) spacecraft was the major cause for the lengthy delay in launching the third test flight of China's future manned spacecraft a Beijing newspaper reported. |
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