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Project 921 Human Spaceflight Programme (Phase-II)
Project 921 Phase-II is the second stage of China’s second human spaceflight programme. Its objective is to develop techniques for advanced human spaceflight, notably extra-vehicular activity (EVA) and space rendezvous and docking. The programme consists a number of manned and unmanned flight missions with the basic ShenZhou spacecraft, a ‘target spacecraft’ for testing the space docking technique, and two single-module temporarily man-tended orbital stations. The programme is expected to conclude by 2015.
The main objectives of Project 921 Phase-II are:
- To accomplish EVA and space rendezvous and docking operations;
- To replace the existing 8,000kg-payload CZ-2F launch vehicle with a more capable 12t-payload launch vehicle for unmanned missions, as well as a further modified launch vehicle using the LOX/Kerosene propellant for manned missions;
- To finalise the ShenZhou spacecraft design to allow batch production;
- To select and train new astronauts, including some female astronauts, who will succeed the existing 14 astronauts for the human spaceflight programme
Background
With the successful completion of the ShenZhou 6 human spaceflight mission, Project 921 entered its second phase in 2006. The programme was listed among the 16 key projects in China’s medium- to long-term outline for science & technology development (2006-2020). The China Human Spaceflight Project Office is responsible for the overall management and budgetary concerns of the project. China Aerospace Science & Technology Corporation (CASC) is responsible for design and development of the manned spacecraft and launch vehicle. China Academy of Sciences (CAS) is responsible for development of the application systems onboard the spacecraft. A total of 110 institutes and organisations are directly involved in the project, with over 3,000 firms across the country providing technical support and assistance.
The number of sub-systems has increased from 7 in the Project 921 Phase-I to 8 in the Project 921 Phase-II. They are: Astronaut System (Project 921-1), Application System (Project 921-2), Shenzhou Manned Spacecraft System (Project 921-3), Launch Vehicle System (Project 921-4), Launch Site System (Project 921-5), Tracking, Telemetry & Command (TT&C) System (Project 921-6), Landing Site System (Project 921-7), and Space Lab System (Project 921-8).
Schedule
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Astronaut Zhai Zhigang performing China's first EVA operation during the ShenZhou 7 mission (Chinese Internet) |
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The ShenZhou 7 human spaceflight mission in September 2008 was the first flight mission of the Project 921 Phase-II. The mission included three astronauts, one of which will performed China’s first EVA. The objective of the mission was to test the EVA spacesuit design and also provide experience for future EVA operations. The mission was originally scheduled in 2007, but delay in the EVA spacesuit development caused the mission to be postponed for a year.
After the ShenZhou 7 mission, the programme will concentrate on the grasp of the space rendezvous and docking technique. The possible schedule of future flight missions includes:
- October 2010 – TianGong 1 target spacecraft launch
- Later 2010 to early 2011 – ShenZhou 8 unmanned spacecraft to carry out the first automated rendezvous docking operation with TianGong 1
- Early 2011 –ShenZhou 9 carrying three astronauts to carry out the first piloted rendezvous docking operation with TianGong 1
- October 2011 – ShenZhou 10 carrying three astronauts to carry out the second piloted rendezvous docking operation with TianGong 1
- 2013(?) – TianGong 2 space lab launch
- 2013~2014 – Two manned missions (ShenZhou 11 and 12) to send astronauts to TianGong 2
- 2015(?) – TianGong 3 space lab launch
- 2015~2016 – Two manned missions (ShenZhou 13 and 14) to send astronauts to TianGong 3
Spacecraft
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A space lab simulator located inside the Beijing Space City (Chinese Internet) |
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ShenZhou – Project 921 Phase-II will continue employing the three-module ShenZhou manned spacecraft for manned flight missions. However, the spacecraft’s design will be finalised to allow batch production.
TianGong 1 – Also known as ‘Target Spacecraft’, this is a single-module spacecraft equipped with a docking port. It will serve as a target for the ShenZhou spacecraft to perform rendezvous docking operations in the orbit. The launch of TianGong 1 is scheduled to take place in October 2010 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, using a modified CZ-2F/G space launch vehicle.
TianGong 2 – This is an 8,000kg monolithic orbital station designed for earth observation and space scientific experiment roles. It will be visited and tended by astronauts on a short-term basis and left flying alone on autonomous mode. The spacecraft has a habitable living sector to accommodate visiting astronauts, and a service sector to provide power supply for the spacecraft. A docking port is fitted at the end of the living sector.
TianGong 3 – This spacecraft is similar in size and design to TianGong 2, but with more sophisticated and capable life-support and recycling systems to support longer stay of astronauts onboard the spacecraft. TianGong 3 will be fitted with two or more docking ports to allow a ShenZhou spacecraft and a cargo spacecraft docked with it at the same time to form a primitive multi-module space station. TianGong 3 will probably be launched by an improved CZ-2F/H launch vehicle from the newly-built Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre in Hainan Island.
Cargo Spacecraft – The TianGong 1 design will also be used to develop a cargo spacecraft, which will be fitted with rendezvous and docking port and used for resupplying and refuelling the future space station. The spacecraft will be launched from the newly-built Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre in Hainan Island [1].
Launch Vehicles
ChangZheng 2F – The basic variant ChangZheng 2F launch vehicle was used for the last time during the ShenZhou 7 mission in September 2009.
ChangZheng 2F/G – This is designed to launch the unmanned “target spacecraft” and “Space Lab” in the second phase of the Chinese human spaceflight programme Project 921. The launch vehicle is based on the ChangZheng 2F, but with increased payload capacity (~11,200kg) and an enlarged payload fairing. The launcher will not be fitted with an emergency escaping system since it will only be used for unmanned missions. The inertial guidance, flight control and onboard electronic systems of the launch vehicle will be completely redesigned to provide better orbit positioning accuracy and improved fault redundancy.
ChangZheng 2F/H – The ChangZheng 2F/H is a new launcher based on the new-generation 120t thrust YF-100 engine burning liquid oxygen and kerosene (LOX/Kerosene) propellant. The launch vehicle has a 3.35m-diameter core module consisting of two YF-100 engines, and four strap-on boosters each consisting of a single YF-100 engine. The ChangZheng 2F/H will be available in two variants: The manned variant is used to launch future ShenZhou spacecraft, with a launch weight of 582 tonnes and a LEO payload capacity of 12,500kg. The unmanned variant is used to launch cargo spacecraft and space labs, with a launch weight of 579 tonnes and a LEO payload capacity of 13,000kg.
Reference
- China to launch Tiangong-1 at the end of next year, People's Daily Online, 9 March 2009
Last update: 9 March 2009 |
