Chinese
space planners have outlined the objectives for the next several missions of
their piloted Shenzhou missions. Next up is Shenzhou 7, China's third human spaceflight that will liftoff in 2008 and include a space walk.
According
to a February 24 report in China Daily, Shenzhou 8 is set to showcase
the ability to dock, with that expertise leading to China establishing its own
space station.
This
step-by-step effort has been outlined by Wang Zhougui, director of China Manned
Space Flight Engineering Office during a recent lecture, according to China
Daily.
Wang
was quoted as saying that one or two astronauts would walk in space for roughly
one-half hour. Shenzhou 8's mission of docking in space would be launched
around 2009 to 2011, he noted.
Independent means
While
far from fast-paced, China appears to be on a steady track to demonstrate
various space abilities.
After
a succession of unpiloted Shenzhou shakeout flights, China carried out its
first piloted mission in October 2003, a flight that lasted less than a day.
The solo pilot was Yang Liwei.
Two
years later, China's second piloted mission in October 2005 was a two-person
flight. The Shenzhou 6 craft carried Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, staying
aloft for five days.
Utilized
to launch the Shenzhou spacecraft is China's CZ-2F rocket, topped by an escape
tower designed to pull the vehicle free in case of a booster problem. That nation's
human space voyages depart from the sprawling Jiuquan Space Launch Center in northwestern Gansu Province.
China is the third
country to demonstrate independent means to carry out Earth-orbiting human
space flight. The former Soviet Union flew the first human into Earth orbit,
Yuri Gagarin, in 1961, followed by the U.S. orbital mission of John Glenn in
1962.
Moon also target
China is also eyeing the
Moon as a target.
China Daily reported last year that work continues on
that nation's Chang'e-1 robotic lunar orbiter intended for launch in 2007.
A
Chinese automated lunar lander would follow in 2012, with the nation's space
engineers reportedly targeting 2017 as the time period for a robotic return of
lunar samples back to Earth.
According
to some reports, China is also committed to a follow-on human voyage to the
Moon.
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