flown missionSuccess

Long March 2F/G | Shenzhou-8 & Shenzhou-8-GC

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-8 & Shenzhou-8-GC
Type
Human Exploration
Target orbit
Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

This is the first docking mission for China's Shenzhou program. Being the first spacecraft to visit the Tiangong-1 space station, it was launched without crew to demonstrate spacecraft rendezvous and docking techniques. The spacecraft docked automatically to the station on 2 November 2011. A second undocking and re-docking to test accuracy and reliability of equipment and sensors in a bright environment was performed on 14 November 2011. Shenzhou 8 undocked on 17 November 2011 and landed safely back on Earth the same day.

schedule

NET (no earlier than)
Window opens
Window closes
Last updated

vehicle & provider

Rocket
Long March 2F/G
Family
Long March
Variant
F/G
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