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.



Ref.: #9 - update: 03.02.15