Launch Alert: Shenzhou 6

[vjp]

China is launching its second manned space mission, and the first mission with 2 astronauts, in just a few minutes, according to space.com: https://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/next_launch.html

 

[JRThro]

space.com and spaceflghtnow.com both report a successful launch at 9:00 PM EDT (9:00 AM local time).

 

[graylensman]

That's exciting news! Any indication of how long the mission is to last? Space.com only says a "multi-day" flight.

 

[vjp]

I heard 5 days.

 

[C Greg]

Look at the rocket that China Radio International is using to decorate their Shenzhou 6 webpages: https://en.chinabroadcast.cn/china/events/shenzhou6/index.htm

Some poor sap will get 5 years' breaking rocks for that one.

Also, they have interesting info and photos from inside the ship in orbit.

Greg

 

[graylensman]

Originally posted by C Greg
Look at the rocket that China Radio International is using to decorate their Shenzhou 6 webpages. Some poor sap will get 5 years' breaking rocks for that one.
Greg

I'm not so sure. There's alot of copy on that website touting a future Chinese mission to the moon. The Saturn V might just be a subliminal tie-in...

Some of those photos are great - it looks like the Shenzhou is a relatively roomy ship. And does the launch vehicle sport fins? Difficult to tell, but it looks like it to me.

 

[C Greg]

I have seen static plastic and/or paper models of the Long March 2F with small fins. I looked for photos of the actual rockets some time ago, but don't remember finding clear photos of the fins. I believe the 2F that launched Shenzhou 5 didn't have fins.
Here is a nice free paper model of a 2F:

https://udonfact.hp.infoseek.co.jp/paper/down/down.html

Has no fins but flies great on 18mm motors. I did mount the booster pods a bit further out from the core tube for stability, but probably wasn't necessary.

Greg

 

[prowlerguy]

gray,

You going to be there Sunday?

 

[skan 32]

it was live on cnn (international at least) hardly anything on the brit news though,
bbc24 had a quick intro to the news (a live clip) as the shenzhou had just cleared the tower,i couldn't belive the fools cut away from a live launch
i only heard at 10.30pm and it launched at 2.00 am (here in the U.K time),
didnt get to bed till 6 am
JJ (JJ-UK)

 

[graylensman]

Originally posted by prowlerguy
gray,

You going to be there Sunday?

Yes, absolutely. I've got a two new models to fly!