The Long March 2F is a Chinese orbital carrier rocket, part of the Long March 2 rocket family. Designed to launch the crewed Shenzhou spacecraft, the Long March 2F is a human-rated two-stage version of the Long March 2E rocket, which in turn was based on the Long March 2C launch vehicle. It is launched from complex SLS at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.
Second crewed flight to the Chinese Tiangong space station carrying Zhai Zhigang, commander, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu, operators, on their second, second and first spaceflight respectively. Their mission duration onboard the TSS is 6 months, the longest so far in Chinese spaceflight.
Low Earth OrbitThe payload is an experimental reusable spacecraft. It is rumored to be a prototype of a reusable spaceplane (similar to Boeing X-37B vehicle). The spacecraft stayed in orbit for two days and returned to Earth on September 6. Though the landing site was not disclosed, the spacecraft is presumed to have landed at an airbase near Lop Nor nuclear test site.
Low Earth OrbitThis is the sixth crewed mission for China's Shenzhou program. Shenzhou-11 will carry two taikonauts, Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong, to the Tiangong-2 space station launched earlier in the year. The taikonauts will stay in Tiangong-2 for 30 days.
Low Earth OrbitChina's second space station, Tiangong-2 is tasked to verify key technologies such as cargo transportation, on-orbit propellant resupply, and a medium-term stay of astronauts. It will also carry an array of scientific experiments, and will be equipped with a robotic arm to help the assembly and maintenance of the station.
Low Earth OrbitThis isthe fifth crewed mission for China's Shenzhou program which lasted 15 days. Shenzhou-10 began its mission by bringing Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping to the Tiangong-1 space station. During their 12-day stay at the station astronauts conducted space medicine and technological experiments, and Wang Yaping gave a lecture for over 60 million Chinese students. On 23 June undocked from the station and performed manual re-docking procedure, which was one of the objectives of the mission. On 25 June Shenzhou-10 undocked from the station and landed safely on the morning of the next day.
Low Earth OrbitThis is the fourth crewed mission for China's Shenzhou program which lasted 12 days. Being the first crewed spacecraft to visit the Tiangong-1 space station, it brought up the astronauts Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and the first Chinese female astronaut Lie Yang. They docked automatically to the station on 18 June. During their stay in the station, astronauts conducted various scientific and technological experiments, and performed manual re-docking on 24 June. Shenzhou 9 undocked on 29 June and landed safely back on Earth the same day.
Low Earth OrbitThis 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.
Low Earth Orbit