At 0:40 on December 30, 2002, Beijing time, the "Shenzhou" 4 unmanned spacecraft developed by China was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and successfully entered the predetermined orbit. This is the fourth flight test of China's manned space program. The success of this launch marks another important step for China to achieve manned flight.
html In the early morning of the 130th, the starry sky at the manned space launch site was brilliant. Next to the launch tower of the spacecraft, which is more than 100 meters high, stands the Long March 2F strap-on high-thrust launch vehicle. The top of the rocket holds the "Shenzhou" 4 spacecraft . At 0:40 the Shenzhou 4 spacecraft , with a loud noise, the rocket rose into the sky and flew rapidly into space. The long flames ejected from the tail of the rocket drew a brilliant rainbow in the night sky. Ten minutes later, the spacecraft successfully entered the predetermined orbit.
China successfully launched the "Shenzhou" spacecraft for the first time on November 20, 1999. According to the development plan, several unmanned spacecraft will be launched and then manned flights will be carried out. The Shenzhou 4 spacecraft launched this time is an important flight test in the entire development plan. The spacecraft will return to the ground after completing its scheduled test mission in space.
The "Shenzhou" 4 spacecraft is mainly developed by China Academy of Space Technology and Shanghai Institute of Aerospace Technology affiliated to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation; Long March 2F rocket is developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology affiliated to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Chinese Academy of Sciences , the Ministry of Information Industry and other relevant units have developed shipborne instruments and ground measurement and control equipment for space science experiments and applied research. The entire system of the
manned space application system participated in the test. During the spacecraft's autonomous flight and orbital flight, it will carry out space science and technology research projects such as multi-modal microwave remote sensor earth detection, comprehensive precision orbit determination experiments, spatial separation and purification experiments of biological macromolecules and cells, microgravity fluid physics experiments. The astronaut system and spacecraft environmental control and life support subsystems also fully participated in the test. Previously, preparatory astronauts had entered the spacecraft for practical experience.
This test also set up a number of land emergency life-saving areas and sea emergency life-saving areas in accordance with the requirements of formal manned flights. Rescue personnel were in place and relevant drills were conducted. During the flight of the spacecraft in orbit, under the unified dispatch of the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center, relevant measurement and control stations and the "Yuanwang" ocean-going space survey ship will continue to track, measure and control the spacecraft.
The launch of the "Shenzhou" spacecraft 4 is the 69th flight of the Long March series launch vehicle . It is also the 27th consecutive success of my country's space launch since October 1996. The spacecraft launch site, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, has complete launch measurement, control, communication, command systems and equipment and facilities to meet the needs of astronauts, as well as a backup landing site and emergency life-saving medical center.
The "Shenzhou" 4 spacecraft flew in space for 6 days and 18 hours as planned, orbiting the earth 108 times. While the spacecraft was in orbit, inspired by Chairman Jiang's congratulatory message, the test crews worked together and carefully monitored and controlled the spacecraft, striving to ensure the spacecraft's safe flight and successful recovery. The Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center uniformly dispatches the four "Yuanwang" space survey ships and related ground measurement and control stations distributed in the three oceans to continuously track, measure and control the spacecraft. The spacecraft successfully carried out hundreds of actions such as deployment of solar panels , orbital maneuvers, and attitude determination in space, successfully implemented orbit changes , and performed two orbit maintenance operations.
On the evening of January 5, 2003, when the "Shenzhou" 4 spacecraft orbited the earth 107 times and flew over the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, the "Yuanwang 3" space survey ship on standby there issued a return order to it. The spacecraft immediately established a return attitude, the return module separated from the orbital module , the brake engine was ignited, and it began to return from space to the earth's surface.After the spacecraft entered the atmosphere 80 kilometers above the ground, it flew at a high speed of about 8 kilometers per second and violently rubbed against the atmosphere. A plasma layer was generated on the surface of the return capsule, forming an electromagnetic shield and temporarily cutting off contact with the ground. The spacecraft had just flown out of the " black barrier area", and the landing site of the Xi'an Satellite Measurement and Control Center, which was responsible for recovering the spacecraft, discovered the target in time. Afterwards, in accordance with predetermined procedures, the spacecraft landed smoothly at the spacecraft landing site in central Inner Mongolia, and search and rescue personnel recovered the spacecraft's return capsule.
"Shenzhou" 4 is the third unmanned spacecraft in my country's manned space project. Except that it is not manned, its technical status is exactly the same as manned spacecraft . During this flight, the manned space application system, astronaut system, spacecraft environment control and life support subsystem fully participated in the test, and successively conducted research projects such as earth observation, material science , life science test, space astronomy and space environment detection in space; the reserve astronauts also entered the spacecraft for practical experience before launch. During the flight of the spacecraft in orbit, the performance of various instruments and equipment on the ship was stable and worked normally, and a large amount of valuable flight test data and scientific information were obtained.
