Space & Astronomy

Shenzhou-9 docks with Tiangong-1

By T.K. Randall
June 19, 2012 ·  4 comments

Image Credit: Xinhua The mission was launched on Saturday with three astronauts on board including China's first female astronaut, Liu Yang. The crew were able to successfully dock at the Tiangong-1 space lab using automated systems that took advantage of lasers and optic sensors to drive the spacecraft in to the lab's docking ring. Later the crew will back out again and attempt a manual docking.

"We've done over 1,500 simulations," said astronaut Liu Wang. "We've mastered the techniques and skills. China has first class technologies and astronauts, and therefore I'm confident we will fulfil the manual rendezvous."

Source: BBC News | Comments (4)

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