Shenzhou 4

Designation:	27630 / 02061A
Launch date:	29 Dec 2002 - 16:40 UT
Launch site:	Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC)
Launch vehicle:	CZ-2F (#69)
Mission:	Unmanned spaceship test
Earth orbit:
- Perigee / Apogee	km
- Inclination	°
- Period	min
Landing date:	05 Jan 2003 - 11:16 UT
Landing location:	40.51deg N, 111.38 deg E
Mission duration:	6 days 18 hours 36 minutes
Orbits:	107

SZ-4 orbital module: 27634 / 02061C.

ShenZhou-4 is the fouth, and also the last unmanned experimental spaceship that was launched before the manned ShenZhou-5 mission. The spaceship was launched by a CZ-2F space launch vehicle at 00:40 Beijing Time on 30 December 2002 (16:40 GMT on 29 December) from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
The ShenZhou-4 carried a retrievable crew module with all furnishings, test equipment, and two dummy astronaut to assess its viability for a manned launch. Additionally the spaceship also carried 52 science payloads for earth observation, space environment monitoring, microgravity fluid physics, and biological technology research. After staying on the earth orbit for 7 days, the re-entry capsule of the ShenZhou-4 was successfully recovered on 5 Jauary 2003 at 19:16 Beijing Time (11:16 GMT), with the orbit module remaining on earth orbit for another six months.
The whole mission was said to be a total success, which made programme leaders determined to launch the first manned spaceship in the next mission.

Shenzhou cabine after landing.

Launch Shenzhou 4.

Landing Shenzhou 4. Credit: #411a

Shenzhou 4 Space Mail. Credit: #411a

Shenzhou 4 Special stamp & Space Mail.

Ref.: #7, #233, #411a - update: 18.07.21