The Flight of Shenzhou 2 |
China (PR) |
Shenzhou-2 was launched at
about 1700 UT on 9 January 2001. The initial orbit of was 196.5-333.8 km.
At about 1325 UT on 10 January the orbit was changed to 327.7-332.7 km
(see picture below)

At the 42.6 degree inclination of Shenzhou-2 the orbital period 91.1 minutes leads to a ground track that
repeats every 31 orbits. The maneuver took place on a pass that is identical
to that of the landing orbit of Shenzhou-1. Therefore, every two
days (31 orbits) Shenzhou-2 will pass along the same ground track that
Shenzhou-1 used to land.
Interestingly, the maneuver took place exactly on top of one of the locations for a tracking ship during
the flight of Shenzhou-1. (See mao below.