View source for Astronomy:Shenzhou 9

{{Short description|2012 Chinese crewed spaceflight to Tiangong-1}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name               = Shenzhou 9
| image              = Tiangong 1 drawing.png
| image_caption      = Diagram depicting Shenzhou 9 (right) docked with Tiangong-1 (left)
| insignia           =
| mission_type       = 
| operator           = 
| COSPAR_ID          = 2012-032A
| SATCAT             = 38461
| mission_duration   = 12 days, 15 hours and 25 minutes
| orbits_completed   = 
| spacecraft_type    = [[Engineering:Shenzhou (spacecraft)|Shenzhou]]
| manufacturer       = 
| launch_mass        = 
| landing_mass       = 
| launch_date        = {{start-date|16 June 2012, 10:37:24|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| launch_rocket      = [[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]]
| launch_site        = Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1
| landing_date       = {{end-date|29 June 2012, 02:01:16|timezone=yes}}&nbsp;UTC
| landing_site       = 
| orbit_epoch        = 
| orbit_reference    = [[Astronomy:Geocentric orbit|Geocentric]]
| orbit_regime       = [[Astronomy:Low Earth orbit|Low Earth]]
| orbit_periapsis    = 
| orbit_apoapsis     = 
| orbit_inclination  = 
| orbit_period       = 
| apsis              = gee
| docking            = {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
   | docking_target     = Tiangong-1
   | docking_type       = dock
   | docking_date       = 18 June 2012, 06:07&nbsp;UTC
   | undocking_date     = 24 June 2012, 03:08&nbsp;UTC
   | time_docked        = 3&nbsp;days, 21&nbsp;hours, 1&nbsp;minute
 }}
 {{Infobox spaceflight/Dock
   | docking_target     = Tiangong-1
   | docking_type       = dock
   | docking_date       = 24 June 2012, 04:38&nbsp;UTC
   | undocking_date     = 28 June 2012, 01:22&nbsp;UTC
   | time_docked        = 3&nbsp;days, 20&nbsp;hours, 44&nbsp;minutes
 }}
| crew_size          = 3
| crew_members       = Jing Haipeng<br />Liu Wang<br />Liu Yang
| crew_callsign      = 
| crew_photo         = Shenzhou 9 crew.jpg
| crew_photo_caption = (l-r) Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang, and Liu Yang
| previous_mission   = Shenzhou 8
| next_mission       = [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 10|Shenzhou 10]]
| insignia_caption   = Shenzhou 9 mission patch
| programme          = [[Astronomy:Shenzhou program|Shenzhou program]]
}}

'''Shenzhou 9''' ({{zh|s=神舟九号}}) was the fourth crewed [[Engineering:Spacecraft|spacecraft]] flight of {{wipe|China}}'s [[Astronomy:Shenzhou program|Shenzhou program]], launched at 18:37:24 CST (10:37:24 UTC), 16 June 2012. Shenzhou 9 was the second spacecraft and first crewed mission and expedition to dock with the Tiangong-1 space station, which took place on 18 June. The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft landed at 10:01:16 CST (02:01:16 UTC) on 29 June in the [[Place:Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region]]. The mission's crew included the first Chinese female astronaut, Liu Yang. The next mission was [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 10|Shenzhou 10]], which launched on 11 June 2013.<ref name="2point6billion" />

== History ==
On 12 March 2012, it was announced that the initial crew selection roster for the mission included female astronauts.<ref name="People'sDaily" /> The crew were unveiled to the press on 15 June. China's first female [[Astronaut|astronaut]] would be Liu Yang. Liu was selected ahead of her fellow female astronaut prospect Wang Yaping.<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" /> This mission also featured the first repeat astronaut, Jing Haipeng, the commander of the mission.<ref name="Reuters 2012-06-18" /> Shenzhou 9 was the 9th flight in China's Shenzhou program and the fourth crewed spaceflight. The mission's launch was 49 years to the day after that of the first [[Astronomy:Women in space|woman in space]], cosmonaut [[Biography:Valentina Tereshkova|Valentina Tereshkova]].<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />

== Mission preparations ==
The Shenzhou 9 spacecraft arrived at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern [[Earth:Gobi Desert|Gobi Desert]] on 9 April 2012 and its carrier rocket, the [[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]], arrived on 9 May.<ref name="XNA 2012-04-09" /> On 9 June 2012, the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft and its carrier rocket were rolled out to launch pad.<ref name="BusinessLine" /> On 12 June 2012 underwent system-wide joint exercises, and final health checks were completed the following day.

=== Expedition ceremony ===
On 16 June 2012, the expedition ceremony was held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo attended the ceremony. The astronauts, Liu Wang, Liu Yang, and Jing Haipeng, rode to the launch tower and turned in the entrance with the assistance of support staff.<ref>{{cite news|editor-last=Yao |editor-first=Peishuo|url=http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2012/06-16/3968395.shtml|script-title=zh:神九发射在即航天员已进入飞船舱内|agency=China News Service|date=2012-06-16|access-date=2021-08-06|language=zh}}</ref>

== Mission ==
The Long March 2F rocket was launched on 16 June 2012 at 10:37 UTC.

Shenzhou 9 docked with China's first space lab Tiangong-1 at 06:07 UTC on 18 June, marking China's first crewed spacecraft [[Astronomy:Space rendezvous|rendezvous]] and [[Engineering:Docking and berthing of spacecraft|docking]].<ref name="NSF 2012-06-18" /><ref name="CMSE 2012-06-10" /> This docking was remotely controlled from a ground station.<ref name="Guardian 2012-06-24" /> After about 3 hours, when the pressures inside the vessels were equalized, Jing Haipeng entered into Tiangong-1.<ref>{{cite news|last=Xin |first=Dingding |url=http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-06/19/content_15510702.htm|title=China successfully completes space docking|work=China Daily|date=19 June 2012|access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref> Six days later,  Shenzhou 9 detached from the station and then redocked manually under the control of crew member Liu Wang, making it the first manual docking for the Chinese program.<ref name="Guardian 2012-06-24" />

Shenzhou 9 landed by parachute in Siziwang Banner, [[Place:Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia]] on 29 June 2012.<ref name="NBCShen">{{cite news |title=China's Shenzhou-9 crew returns to Earth after history-making trip|publisher=NBC News |date=29 June 2012 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/chinas-shenzhou-9-crew-returns-earth-after-history-making-trip-flna852872|access-date= 29 June 2012 }}</ref>

== Crew ==
{{Spaceflight crew
| terminology       = Crew member
| launchdate        = 16 June 2012
| landingdate       = 
| crew1_up          = Jing Haipeng{{Flagicon|CHN}}<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />
| flights1_up       = Second
| position1         = Commander
| details1_up       = First Chinese astronaut to fly more than once in space<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />
| crew2_up          = Liu Wang{{Flagicon|CHN}}<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />
| flights2_up       = First
| position2         = Operator
| details2_up       = 
| crew3_up          = Liu Yang{{Flagicon|CHN}}<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />
| flights3_up       = First
| position3         = Laboratory Assistant
| details3_up       = First Chinese woman in space<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />
}}

=== Backup crew ===
The backup crew for the flight was:<ref name="SpaceDaily 2013-04-03">{{cite news |last=Jones|first=Morris |date=3 April 2013 |url=http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Shenzhous_Shadow_Crew_999.html |title= Shenzhou's Shadow Crew |work=Space Daily |access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref>
{{Spaceflight crew
| terminology       = Crew member
| crew1_up          = Nie Haisheng
| position1         = Commander
| crew2_up          = Zhang Xiaoguang
| position2         = Operator
| crew3_up          = Wang Yaping
| position3         = Laboratory Assistant
}}

The backup crew later became the prime crew for [[Astronomy:Shenzhou 10|Shenzhou 10]].<ref name="SpaceDaily 2013-06-11">{{cite news |url= http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Astronauts_of_Shenzhou_10_mission_meet_press_999.html |date= 11 June 2013 |title= Astronauts of Shenzhou-10 mission meet press |work= Space Daily|agency=Xinhua News Agency|access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref>

== Mission timeline ==
;9 April 2012
* Shenzhou 9 space capsule arrives at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center<ref name="XNA 2012-04-09" />

;9 May 2012
* [[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]] space launcher arrives at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center<ref name="BusinessLine" />

;9 June 2012
* Launch stack rolled out to the launch pad<ref name="BusinessLine" />

;15 June 2012
* Crew unveiled<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />

;16 June 2012
* Launch, first woman in space for the Chinese program, first repeat traveller for the Chinese program, first crewed mission to a space station for the Chinese program<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15" />

;18 June 2012
* First crewed rendezvous for the Chinese space program.
* Automated docking with Tiangong-1, first crewed docking by the Chinese program<ref name="NSF 2012-06-18" />

;24 June 2012
* Shenzhou 9 undocks with Tiangong-1<ref name="Guardian 2012-06-24" />
* Shenzhou 9 redocks with Tiangong-1, first manual docking by the Chinese space program,<ref name="Guardian 2012-06-24" /> second crewed docking by the program

;29 June 2012
* Shenzhou 9 landed in Siziwang Banner, [[Place:Inner Mongolia|Inner Mongolia]].<ref name="NBCShen" />

==See also==
*Chinese space program
** Chinese women in space
*Tiangong program
*[[Engineering:Long March 2F|Long March 2F]]
*Yang Liwei
{{Clear}}

== References ==
{{Reflist
| refs =

<ref name="2point6billion">
{{cite web
| url = http://www.2point6billion.com/news/2010/08/18/china-completes-tiangong-1-space-module-6770.html
| title = China Completes Tiangong-1 Space Module
| website = 2point6billion.com
| date = 18 August 2010
| access-date = 25 June 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101119015509/http://www.2point6billion.com/news/2010/08/18/china-completes-tiangong-1-space-module-6770.html
| archive-date = 19 November 2010
| url-status = dead
}}
</ref>

<ref name="People'sDaily">
{{cite news
| editor-last = Xue 
| editor-first = Meng 
| title = Shenzhou-9 may take female astronaut to space: official
| url = http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/202936/7755164.html
| work = People's Daily
| agency = Xinhua News Agency
| date = 12 March 2012
| access-date = 16 June 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Space.com 2012-06-15">
{{cite news
| last = Moskowitz
| first = Clara
| title = China Unveils Astronaut Crew, 1st Female Spaceflyer, for Saturday Launch
| url = http://www.space.com/16158-china-female-astronaut-crew-shenzhou-9.html
| work = Space.com
| date = 15 June 2012
| access-date = 16 June 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Reuters 2012-06-18">
{{cite news
| title = China astronauts complete successful space docking
| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-space-idINBRE85E0NI20120618
| work = Reuters
| date = 18 June 2012
| access-date = 25 June 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="NSF 2012-06-18">
{{cite web
| last = Barbosa
| first = Rui C. 
| title = China's Shenzhou-9 successfully docks with Tiangong-1
| url = http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/06/chinas-shenzhou-9-successfully-docks-with-tiangong-1/
| website = NASASpaceFlight.com
| date = 18 June 2012
| access-date = 18 June 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="XNA 2012-04-09">
{{cite news
| editor-last = Mu
| editor-first = Xuequan
| title = Shenzhou-9 spacecraft delivered to launch center
| url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-04/09/c_122951646.htm
| agency = Xinhua News Agency
| date = 9 April 2012
| access-date = 16 June 2012
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120616043346/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2012-04/09/c_122951646.htm
| archive-date = 16 June 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="BusinessLine">
{{cite news
| title = China to launch manned spacecraft this month
| url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/article3508490.ece
| work = Business Line
| agency = Press Trust of India
| date = 9 June 2012
| access-date = 16 June 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Guardian 2012-06-24">
{{cite news
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/24/chinese-spacecraft-first-manual-docking 
| title = Chinese spacecraft Shenzhou 9 makes first manual docking with space module
| work = The Guardian
| agency = Associated Press
| date = 24 June 2012 
| access-date = 25 June 2012 
}}
</ref>

<ref name="CMSE 2012-06-10">
{{cite web
| url = http://en.cmse.gov.cn/news/201206/t20120610_44532.html
| publisher = China Manned Space Engineering Office
| title = China Will Conduct its First Manned Space Rendezvous and Docking Mission
| date  = 10 June 2012
| access-date = 7 August 2021 
}}
</ref>

}}

== External links ==

* {{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/special/shenzhou9/ |access-date=2014-06-30|title=China launches Shenzhou-9 Spacecraft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630103442/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/special/shenzhou9/|archive-date=30 June 2014|agency=Xinhua News Agency|type=Archive}}
* {{cite news|url=http://english.people.com.cn/102775/205303/index.html |title=Shenzhou-9 Panoramic Report|work=People's Daily |access-date=2012-06-26}}
* {{cite news|url=http://english.cntv.cn/special/shenzhou9/index.shtml|access-date=2018-10-09|title=Manned Space Mission Shenzhou-9's Docking Mission with Tiangong-1|publisher=CNTV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009123044/http://english.cntv.cn/special/shenzhou9/index.shtml|archive-date=9 October 2018|type=Archive}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.spaceflight101.com/shenzhou-9-mission-updates.html|access-date=2012-06-18|title=Shenzhou 9 Mission Updates|website=Spaceflight101|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618020917/http://www.spaceflight101.com/shenzhou-9-mission-updates.html|archive-date=18 June 2012|type=Archive}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/9/Shenzhou9Diary.php |access-date=2012-08-23|title=Shenzhou 9 Mission Diary and Analyses|website=Zarya.info|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823121223/http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/9/Shenzhou9Diary.php|archive-date=23 August 2012|type=Archive}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Shenzhou 09}}
[[Category:Human spaceflights]]

{{Sourceattribution|Shenzhou 9}}