flown missionSuccess

Long March 2F | Shenzhou-4

China Aerospace Science and Technology CorporationLaunch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921) — Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

mission

Name
Shenzhou-4
Type
Human Exploration
Target orbit
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Fourth and final test flight of the Shenzhou spacecraft, without crew on board. The spacecraft was flown in the same configuration as a crew-carrying mission, and as such two dummy astronauts were carried on board, as are sleeping bags, food and medication. The control systems were fitted with ability for manual control and emergency landing. The windows were constructed of a new material that was designed to stay clear even after reentry to allow an astronaut to confirm that the parachutes have deployed properly. The spacecraft carried 100 peony seeds to investigate the effect of weightlessness on plants grown from them. The 52 experiments onboard investigated areas in physics, biology, medicine, earth observation, material science, and astronomy.

schedule

NET (no earlier than)
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vehicle & provider

Rocket
Long March 2F
Family
Long March
Variant
F
Provider
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Type
Government
Country
CHN

launch site

Pad
Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921)
Location
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Country
CHN
Timezone
Asia/Shanghai