Shenzhou-8 & Shenzhou-8-GC
This mission is complete.
Vehicle
Long March 2F/G
Profile →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-...
Provider
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Profile →CHN • Founded 1999
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 manufactu...
Mission Brief
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.
Mission Timeline
14 / 14100%Launch Site
Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Schedule History
No delays or schedule changes recorded.
