China is continuing to manoeuvre the orbital module of the Shen Zhou 2 spacecraft after the return of its re-entry capsule on 16 January. Shen Zhou is expected to carry two Chinese astronauts into orbit at some point over the next two years.
The forward orbital module of the spacecraft, which has a rear service propulsion system with the manned capsule in between, is being used to carry experiments and to act as a docking crew transfer module for Chinese space missions being planned for the future. These could involve the eventual docking of two Shen Zhou spacecraft, based on the Russian Soyuz TM, to form an interim "space laboratory" for Beijing.
Manoeuvring the independent orbital module has surprised Western observers, says the Molniya Space Consultancy in the UK which specialises in monitoring Chinese and Russian space activities.
China has remained silent on the activities, beyond saying that the module holds 12 experiments and a further 37 on an "attached" segment which is assumed to be the outside of the module. The latter will remain in orbit until June, says the Chinese.
The 2.4m (7.9ft) diameter, 3.5m long module - larger than the Soyuz TM - clearly has its own propulsion thruster system. Unlike the equivalent Soyuz unit, it is known to have a pair of solar panels which the Soyuz does not. A further two panels are also attached to the service module of the Shen Zhou spacecraft whilst in its flight configuration.
Phillip Clark of Molniya says that its first manoeuvres from 330-345km (205-210 miles) orbit on 16 January, to 388-404km "were followed by another series of burns to boost the then decaying 375 -391km orbit to 389-403km". Further manoeuvres have also been made, the last on the 15 March taking the spacecraft from a 382-390km orbit to the present 349-405km.
Source: Flight International
