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Temporary space mission launched by Chinese BY STEPHEN CLARK SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: August 3, 2005 China sent its latest recoverable satellite into orbit Tuesday on a mission containing a host of scientific, technology, and reconnaissance experiments to be returned to Earth after their stay in space. Liftoff of the newest so-called FSW satellite was at 0730 GMT (3:30 a.m. EDT), or during the mid-afternoon hours at the Jiuquan satellite launch center situated in the Gobi desert in northwest China's Gansu province. The upgraded version of the two-stage Long March 2C booster was used to loft the 21st FSW spacecraft. It features a shroud covering the payload during launch, while most previous FSW missions were exposed during the shaky ride to orbit. It took 20 minutes to deliver the craft into its orbit, which reports indicated measured from a low point of about 165 kilometers to a high point of approximately 500 kilometers with an inclination of around 63 degrees. The FSW series has evolved through several updated designs since the program's inception over 30 years ago. During that time, 21 FSW variants have flown carrying a wide variety of research instruments for primarily scientific and military customers. "The satellite will be used to carry out scientific research, land surveying and mapping, and experiments in outer space," said the state-run Xinhua media group. Most FSW missions last several weeks, although the exact planned duration of this flight has not been publicly revealed. Tuesday's launch was the 46th for the Long March 2 family of rockets, and the 86th flight of the complete series of Long March vehicles. It also marked the 44th consecutive success for the family dating back to 1996, and was the 27th booster to reach orbit in 2005. |
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This extended movie shows Steve Robinson riding the station's robot arm, moving within reach of Discovery's underside and successfully pulling out the first protruding tile gap filler. (6min 45sec file)
This extended movie shows Steve Robinson successfully pulling out the second protruding tile gap filler. (9min 23sec file)
The External Stowage Platform-2 designed to hold spares and replacement equipment for the space station is attached to the Quest airlock module's outer hull during the spacewalk. (6min 29sec file)
Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi climbed 60 feet above Discovery's payload bay to the space station's P6 solar array truss to attach the Materials International Space Station Experiment-5 package. (4min 08sec file)
Noguchi deploys the MISSE-5 package, revealing a host of material samples to the space environment for extended exposure. (3min 43sec file)
Noguchi's helmet-mounted camera provides a stunning view atop the P6 truss showing Discovery to his right and the Russian segment of the space station on his left. (2min 31sec file)