, a China space watcher and software engineer in Singapore."This flight is more important than the first one. China is clearly testing many critical systems onboard. The orbital module section of the Shenzhou 2 will play an important role this time. Also, another important fact is that the spacecraft maneuvered 20.5 hours after launch," Chen Lan said.
"Assuming that this flight is completely successful, and so is Shenzhou 3 in perhaps six months from now, and if there are no other problems on the ground, then the Chinese might well be tempted to fly its first two-man crew on Shenzhou 4 early next year," Clark said. At present, the Chinese manned space program looks good for a first piloted flight in 2003, barring accidents, he said.
Chen Lan said that the week-long flight of Shenzhou 2 is also showing off some type of exposure facility attached to the craft. In total, there are some 64 scientific payloads packed into the space vehicle. The spacecraft has propelled itself into a 186 mile (300 kilometer) circular orbit, he said.
Shenzhou-2's orbital module, once detached, is expected to remain in orbit up to six months, Chen Lan said. If a Shenzhou 3 does fly within six months, as some reports suggest, might it not attempt a docking with the Shenzhou 2 orbital module?
"That may be a little too soon to be realized in early Shenzhou flights. But it seems technically feasible. We'll have to wait and see," Chen Lan said.
Onboard experiments
According to the state Xinhua news agency, the Shenzhou vehicles are being developed and manufactured mainly by the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and Shanghai Research Institute of Astronomical Technology.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Information Industry are also taking part in the design, manufacture and testing of the spacecraft.
In its pilotless mode, the Shenzhou 2 is apparently stuffed with life-science experiments. These "passengers" are not likely to include large animals, like a monkey. Rather, boxes of experiments mounted within the spacecraft may carry items such as microbial specimens.
Clark said that China has flown Pekinese dogs on suborbital sounding rockets in the past. In addition, a few of that countrys recoverable camera-toting satellites have carried mice, as well as insects and plant seeds.
It would be reasonable to assume that these types of life-science experiments may be part of Shenzhous cargo, Clark said. In the 1999 Shenzhou 1 flight, a "dummy astronaut" was flown, which might also be aboard the spacecraft now orbiting Earth, he said.
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