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Human Exploration
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Long March 2F/G | Shenzhou-8 & Shenzhou-8-GC
Long March 2F/G
Oct 31, 9:58 PM UTC
Oct 31, 9:58 PM UTC
Mission Elapsed Time
T-00:00:00
Mission Details
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.
- Type
- Human Exploration
- Orbit
- Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Programs
- Shenzhou
Launch Site
- Pad
- Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921)
- Location
- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
- Country
- 🇨🇳 CHN