Project 921 Shenzhou
China and Piloted Space Programs
Configuration
In the 1990's, China began developing a spacecraft designed to carry astronauts. The Shenzhou spacecraft is based on the three-seat Russian Soyuz capsule, although extensive modifications have been made. The craft, called the Shenzhou, lifts off from Jiuquan Space Launch Center in northern China. Landings take place in remote areas of Inner Mongolia.
The descent cabin lies in the middle of the spaceship, and is the astronaut's cabin and the command and control center. It is a airtight structure with a hatch on the top for astronaut to get in and out of the descent cabin and enter the orbital module, and it is the only landing part of the spaceship to return into the air and to land on the earth. The carrier descent cabin of Shenzhou spaceship is bell-shaped and its outer part is made of high temperature resisting compound material. It is 2.5 meters high and weights 3 ton with diameter of 2.5 meters. It can accommodate three astronauts. It is a modified version of the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, but with a 13% larger cockpit-equipped descent module.
The spacecraft's total length with it orbital module, descent module and instrument propulsion module is approximately 8.8 meters, base flared skirt diameter 2.8 meters, total mass 7,800 kilograms. In advancement spacecraft has two solar cell wing, attached to the outside of the instrument propulsion module module below the descent cabin. The two solar cell wing total area 24.48 square meters, which are deployed after launch have a wingspan width is approximately 17 meters. There are two solar cell wing on the outer Obital module total area 12.24 square meters, which are deployed after launch with a wingspan width approximately 10.4 meters. The god boat has 13 subsystems and its supplies the power distribution. The structure and the organization subsystem guaranteed the airship the configuration, and provides the life for the astronaut the structure space. The Shenzhou spaceraft orbital module has a mass of 2,000 kg with a length of 2.8 meters and a diameter of 2.25 meters.
Shenzhou-4 included a microwave radiac set mainly uses in to survey the precipitation, the atmospheric content, the snow, the soil ingredient, the sea-level temperature; Also may obtain the vegetation growth situation, carries on to the crops evaluates assets. The radar altimeter may obtain sea dynamics parameter and so on the ocean waves significant wave height, sea circulation, this measuring technique is at present to the global scope sea water, the sea ice surface carries on all-weather, is continual, the real-time high accuracy survey only method, has extremely the great significance to the natural disaster research. The radar scattered counts in surveys on the mechanism uses on the international advanced circular cone scanning method, this method only had in the satellite detection uses, it were allowed to survey the sea level wind speed and the wind direction, thus measured the sea level wind field, might apply to the sea power research, the sea condition forecast and the disaster monitor and so on many aspects.
The overall configuration of SZ-5 is mostly identical to SZ-4 with the exception of two areas. The forward end of SZ-5 would be cylindrical in shape instead of the hemispheric shape on SZ-4, and a docking unit for a future orbiting spacelab would be installed on SZ-5. The basic mission operation of SZ-5 would be the same as on SZ-4. The SZ-5 orbital module appears to be carrying both SIGINT equipment on its nose section and high rresolution Imagery equipment on its side based on the SZ-5 hardware imagert released and imagery of previous flown unmanned test spacecraft and official discussions of the planned payload hardware. The presence of test spacecraft docking equipment on the Orbital module is uncertain.
On 15 February 2003, the Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese manned spaceflight application system Zhang Houying had said in a public lecture in Beijing that a science payload, a CCD camera, would be mounted to the exterior of SZ-5. "The externally mounted camera is called a CCD transmission camera, with a ground resolution of 1.6 meter. Its main use will be in military reconnaissance," Zhang told the audience of more than 200 at the lecture. The resolution of the SZ-5 external CCD camera, interestingly, is very similar to the 1.8-meter imaging resolution of the Israeli remote sensing satellite EROS-A1.
The Shenzhou spacecraft is a spacecraft developed by China with completely independent intellectual property rights, which meets or exceeds the technology of the third-generation manned spacecraft in the world. The Shenzhou spacecraft uses three compartments and one segment, which is composed of a return compartment, an orbital compartment, a propulsion compartment, and an additional section, and consists of 13 sub-systems. Compared with the third-generation foreign spacecraft, the Shenzhou spacecraft has the characteristics of a higher starting point and the ability to retain orbit utilization.
The Shenzhou series manned spacecraft was launched by a specially developed Long March 2 F rocket. The launch base is the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and the recovery site is the Siziwang Banner Aerospace Landing Field in Ulanchabu City, central Inner Mongolia.
The spacecraft structure is divided into four parts: the orbital module, the return module, the propulsion module, and the additional section (before Shenzhou-7). The orbital module of the "Shenzhou" spacecraft is a cylinder with a total length of 2.8 meters and a maximum diameter of 2.27 meters. It is connected with the return cabin, and the other end is connected with the space docking mechanism. The orbital module is called the "multifunctional hall" because several astronauts are in the orbital module at all times except for entering the reentry module when taking off and returning. The orbital cabin integrates many functions such as working, eating, sleeping and cleaning.
In order to enable the orbital module to obtain electricity during the solo flight phase, the Shenzhou 7 and the previous Shenzhou spacecraft have installed solar panel wings on both sides of the orbital module (subsequent Shenzhou spacecraft will be replaced by patch solar panels), and each solar wing removes the triangle. Part of the area is 2.0×3.4 meters. When the orbital module is in free flight, it can provide more than 0.5 kilowatts of electricity. There are 4 groups of small propulsion engines at the tail of the orbital module, each group of 4, which provides auxiliary thrust for the spacecraft and the ability to maintain orbital motion after the orbital module is separated; on the side of the orbital module, there is a circular door near the return module. Astronauts provide access to the orbital module. However, the maximum diameter of the door is only 65 cm. Only people with dexterity and special training can enter and exit freely. There is an observation window of the orbital cabin above the cabin door.
The orbital module is the place where the astronauts work and live after the spacecraft enters the orbit. In addition to living devices such as food, drinking water, and urine collectors, the cabin also has instruments and equipment for space applications and scientific experiments. The return cabin is also called the cockpit, with a length of 2.00 meters and a diameter of 2.40 meters (excluding the heat shield). It is the "cockpit" of the astronauts. It is the cabin section used by astronauts to travel in and out of space. It is a closed structure with a cabin door at the front end.
The return cabin of the Shenzhou spacecraft is bell-shaped, with a door communicating with the orbital cabin. The return module is the command and control center of the spacecraft. It has seats for three astronauts to recline for the astronauts during take-off, ascent and return phases. Below the seat is the instrument panel, hand-controlled joystick and optical sight, etc., which display the status of the machinery and equipment on the spacecraft. The astronauts monitor through these instruments and control the operation of the system machinery and equipment on the spacecraft when necessary. The orbital module and the return module are airtight sections with environmental control and life support systems to ensure that the cabin is filled with an atmospheric pressure oxygen and nitrogen mixture, and the temperature and humidity are adjusted to the appropriate range of the human body to ensure that the astronauts Safety of life throughout the mission.
In addition, two main and backup parachutes for landing are installed in the cabin. Two circular windows were opened on the side wall of the return capsule of the Shenzhou spacecraft, one for the astronauts to observe the scene outside the window, and the other for the astronauts to operate the optical sight to observe the ground-piloted spacecraft. The base of the return cabin is a metal frame-layer sealed structure, on which the instruments and equipment of the return cabin are installed. The base is light in weight and very strong. When the return cabin returns to the ground and enters the atmosphere, it protects the return cabin from being burned by the hot atmosphere.
Propulsion cabin is also called instrument cabin or equipment cabin. The propulsion cabin is 3.05 meters long, 2.50 meters in diameter, and 2.80 meters in diameter at the bottom. Install propulsion systems, power sources, orbital brakes, and provide oxygen and water for astronauts.
It has a cylindrical shape and is loaded with engines and propellants for the propulsion system. It provides the spacecraft with the power needed to adjust its attitude and track, as well as braking and deceleration, as well as some equipment for power supply, environmental control, and communication systems. There are a pair of solar wings on both sides, except for the triangular part, the area of ??the solar wing is 2.0×7.5 meters. Combined with the battery wings in the front orbital module, the power generated will be three times that of the Soyuz, with an average of more than 1.5 kilowatts. In addition to the large power provided by these battery wings, it can also rotate around the connection point, so that no matter how the spacecraft moves, it can always maintain the best direction to obtain maximum power, eliminating the need to "turn toward the sun". A large number of maneuvers, which can ensure the uninterrupted observation of the spacecraft to the ground while ensuring the solar array's orientation to the sun.
The rear of the equipment compartment is the propulsion system of the spacecraft. The main propulsion system consists of 4 large main engines, which are in the middle of the bottom of the propulsion cabin. Four pairs of small thrusters for correcting attitude are arranged around the side skirts of the propulsion cabin. They are said to be smaller than the main thrusters and much larger than other auxiliary thrusters. In addition, there is a small auxiliary propeller outside the side skirt of the propulsion cabin.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
