Shenzhou-8 (SZ 8)

Launch, orbit & landing data:

Shenzhou-8 testing

Shenzhou-8 launch preparations

Shenzhou-8 launch preparations

Description:

• Shenzhou 8 (SZ-8) is an unmanned capsule to form an austere space laboratory for future astronaut visits once docked with Tiangong 1. Shenzhou 8 and Tiangong 1 will form a combined spacecraft stretching approximately 60 feet (18.3 m) long. The vehicles will stay docked for 12 days, then Shenzhou 8 will back away and redock for another two days. Tiangong means heavenly palace in English, while Shenzhou is translated as divine craft. Assuming this month's crucial docking tests go well, up to three astronauts could climb aboard the Shenzhou 9 spaceship and blast off early next year. They would dock with Tiangong 1 and conduct experiments inside.

Mission details:

• The Shenzhou 8 spaceship was launched on Oct 31, 2011 on a mission to rendezvous and dock with the Tiangong-1 spacelab.
• Shenzhou 8 was inserted into a 261 x 314 km x 42.8 deg orbit and completed a rendezvous with Tiangong 1 on Nov 2, in a 328 x 338 km orbit. Docking was carried out successfully on Nov 2 at 1728 UTC. On Nov 14 at 1127 UTC it undocked, retreated to 140m and redocked at 1153 UTC.
  On Nov 16 at 1030 UTC Shenzhou 8 undocked from Tiangong 1 and prepared to return to Earth.
• The Shenzhou 8 spacecraft descent module (fanhui cang) landed in China at 1132 UTC on Nov 17 after separation of the orbital module (guidao cang) at 1045 UTC and deorbit a few seconds later; the propulsion module (tuijin cang) separated at 1107 UTC.
  The orbital module remains in space, as does the Tiangong-1 spacelab.
  
  

  Shenzhou-8 landing

  Capsule after landing

  
  

Astrophilately covers:

Shenzhou 8 docking with Tiangong 1. Credit: #411a

Shenzhou 8 landing. Credit: #411a