The First Flights of China's Shen Zhou Spacecraft

摘要

The four test flights of what will become China's piloted spacecraft have now been completed. While the Chinese have discussed the launches, landings and some of the experiments undertaken during these flights, other aspects of the flights - like orbital manoeuvres - have not been discussed in any real detail. This paper provides an overall review of the four test flights launched in November 1999, January 2001, March and December 2002.