Shenzhou III Returning Module Back to Beijing, Dummy Astronauts Safe

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 05, 2002

Shenzhou III Returning Module Back to Beijing, Dummy Astronauts Safe

The Shenzhou III spacecraft's returning module was carried back to Beijing April 2. After some initial examinations, experts said that the returning module is in good condition, a further technology analysis will be conducted soon.

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The Shenzhou III spacecraft's returning module was carried back to Beijing 2 April. After some initial examinations, experts said that the returning module is in good condition, a further technology analysis will be conducted soon.

Previous Two Unmanned Spaceships

On January 10, 2001, China launched the second unmanned spaceship "Shenzhou II" which was basically identical to a manned craft. Scientists designed space life sciences, space materials, space astronomy and space physics experiments under conditions of microgravity in outer space. In Detail

The first experimental spacecraft "Shenzhou" was launched by "Long March" carrier rocket at 6:30 a.m. on November 20, 1999 and touched down in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 3:41 a.m. the next day. Chinese technologists for the first time assembled and tested the rocket and spaceship in a vertical way. In Detail

In November, 1999, Chinese President Jiang Zemin wrote the inscription "Shenzhou" for the country's first test spacecraft which successfully completed its flight.

The Shenzhou III returned to the landing area in the middle of Nei Mongol (Inner Mongolia) at 16:51hours 1 April. From the site, we see that the booster rocket worked normally before the spacecraft landed. The structure is also good after landing, apparatus and equipment installation does not change.

The dummy astronauts are safe and sound after travelling in the space for millions of kilometres. This indicates that the planned manned experiment achieved a good result. During the trial, physical signals and metabolic indices were normal, proving that the environment control and life guarantee system can meet the medical requirements for manned flight.

Why does the Shenzhou III not carry animals for experiment?

The former Soviet Union and the U.S. always conducted experiments with animals in early manned trials. Why does China not conduct such experiments?

Experts said that human beings could not survive in a space environment without gravity in the early stages of manned flights. There is a factor of uncertainty whether the long-term loss-of-gravity environment will affect human lives. Under such conditions, animals are used for experimenting.

But now the problem has a clear answer. For example, a former Soviet Union astronaut travelled for more than 400 days in the space. He was very healthy after returning to earth. So China's space test does not need to test this.

In addition, the environment in manned spacecraft is created by the spacecraft's environment control and life support system. To prove whether the system can meet human needs is conducted without animals. An animal's size is small, the metabolic capacity is low. What's more, when an animal is in a new environment, it may get sick, even death due to illness. So it is hard to prove whether it is a problem with spacecraft's or the animal. Therefore, the Shenzhou spacecraft did not carry out animal experiment, but a dummy astronaut experiment. This choice is more scientific and rational.

By PD Online Staff Li Yan

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