Successful launch of small laboratory, 8.5 tonnes mass (9 tonnes including fuel), to be used in docking experiments during visits by Shenzhou 8, Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10. The last two will carry crews. Anticipated life is two years after which it will be de-orbited.

Precise time: 13:16:03 UTC, at the beginning of a fifteen minute launch window. The date was on the third day of a potential launch period that was set after completion of the investigation into the 2011 Aug CZ launch failure with SJ-11-04. Launch on the first two days of the window was precluded by weather.

Construction complete and ground testing commenced 2010 August. Launch postponed from 2010 Oct for technical reasons, and then again from a target date in the first half of 2011. Tiangong was taken to the launch site 2011 Jun 29.

Orbit details: http://zarya.info/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2011#053

Zarya's notes: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php

NORAD:2011-053A/37820

Apogee raised by 9km to 355 km (Chinese measurement system).

Perigee raised from 200 km to 362 km, making it the new apogee (Chinese measurement system).

Successful launch into orbit of man-rated spacecraft without crew. Objective is to undertake docking tests with Tiangong 1 (2011-053A/37820).

Precise time: 21:58:07 UTC.

The mission is flying as a biosatellite with a payload of plants and animals and will last slightly over two weeks. Part of the payload is DLR of Germany's SIMBOX (Science in Microgravity Box).

Trajectories and maps:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/8/Shenzhou08.php

Orbit details: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2011#063

Frequency: 2224.065 MHz

NORAD: 2011-063A/37859

Succesful unpiloted test docking with Tiangong 1 module. The two vehicles were latched together eight minutes later at 17:36 UTC.

Shenzhou 8 notes: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/8/Shenzhou08.php

Tthey will remain docked for 12 days then separate and conduct a second docking before Shenzhou returns to Earth.

Successfully accomplished.

Mission notes: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/8/Shenzhou08.php

Succesful test of sensors with interference from sunlight.

Mission notes: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/8/Shenzhou08.php

Undocked from Tiangong 1 prior to planned landing Nov 17.

Notes: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/8/Shenzhou08land.php

Location - inner Mongolia near 42°.2 north, 111°.3 east. Precise time - 11:32:14 ±2s.

Followed OM separation at 10:44, retro-fire at 10:45 and OM/SM separation at 11:07 UTC.

Notes: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/8/Shenzhou08land.php

Orbit raised to the region of 360 km after Shenzhou 8 departure, indicating that Shenzhou 9 will be launched 2012 March when the orbit has decayed back to Shenzhou operating height.

Regular check of internal air quality.

Change in attitude affected the orbit decay rate, pushing the potential Shenzhou 9 launch date into May or, possibly, June.

Check of cabin atmosphere, onboards systems. Also changed attitude in orbit, Part of regular series of checks while waiting for Shenzhou 9.

CZ-2F launch vehicle arrives by rail from Beijing.

Transported by rail from Beijing.

To set up rendezvous window for Shenzhou 9.

Launch vehicle and spacecraft taken to the launch pad:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2012-06/09/c_131641580.htm

Perigee lowered by 9 km. The effect was to cause the Tiangong 1 ground track to drift eastwards from day to day compared with the stable location it held previously.

Current orbit::
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Shenzhou.php#11053

Orbit history:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php#TG1period

Indicates that Shenzhou 9 ascent profile may be different from Shenzhou 8.

The time is approximate but is within about five minutes of the actual event.

Orbit adjusted upwards again to counteract ground track drift, ground track now stable and repeating on alternate days ready for Shenzhou 9.

Current orbit::
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Shenzhou.php#11053

Orbit history:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php#TG1period

Piloted spaceflight carrying crew of Jing Haipeng (Commander), Liu Wang (Flight Engineer) and Liu Yang (Mission Engineer) to Tiangong 1. Jing Haipeng is making his second flight after the Shenzhou 7 mission, and Liu Yang is female.

Ignition at 10:37:21 UTC, launch/lift-off came 3s later. Spacecraft separation was 10:46:55 UTC, about 11s earlier than planned.

Likely frequency: 2224.065 MHz.

NORAD - 2012-032A/38461

Orbit notes: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2012#032

Time is approximate, approaching Tiangong 1.

Shenzhou 9 switched to automatic rendezvous when it was 52 kilometres behind Tiangong 1 and slightly below it. The time shown is approximate.

Early reports suggested Shenzhou would complete an automatic rendezvous to a distance of 150 metres for the crew of three to conduct a manually-controlled docking. However, China confirmed an automatic docking with the crew undocking and conducting a manual re-docking later in the mission.

Shenzhou 9 docked with Tiangong 1 space station while over mainland China. Firm contact with all hooks and latches engaged was established
at 06:13 UTC.

The image is taken from the large screen at the flight control centre in Beijing and was broadcast by CCTV.

After checking the airtight seals and mission control was satisfied with the air quality aboard Tiangong 1, the crew opened the hatches between the two vehicles and went aboard a few minutes later.

Ground track map:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/9/Shenzhou9Dock.php

NOTE - the time between docking and hatch opening is dictated by the near-90 minute orbital period. Both events are safest done over Chinese tracking staions so the interval between them has to be about 1.5, 3, 4.5 hours, etc. The Russian standard has been three hours for nearly forty years.

Orientation changed so that complex is flying parallel to the ground with Shenzhou 9 leading. Prior to that Tiangong 1 was leading with the orientation being as it was at the time of docking where Shenzhou 9 approached from behind the station.

Allows Tiangong 1 thrusters to maintain the orbit against air drag:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php#period

Tiangong 1 orientation system was switched off. Liu Wang used the Shenzhou 9 attitude control system in manual mode to vary the orientation of the station and stabilise it in three different pre-determined attitudes with respect to Earth and the orbit. Mission Commander Jing Haipeng was with him in Shenzhou 9 and Liu Yang stayed aboard Tiangong 1.

The purpose was probably to check Shenzhou's manual control system in preparation for the upcoming manual docking test scheduled for June 24.

The time is approximate - announced by China as "around noon" Beijing Time (UTC +8 hours).

Effects of orientation changes throughout the docked phase of the mission can be seen in the orbital parameter plots, eg:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php#apsides

Shenzhou 9 undocked from Tiangong 1 in order to undertake a manually-controlled test docking.

After moving to a position about 400 metres in front of Tiangong 1, Shenzhou 9 approached automatically to 140 metres (arrived 03:53 UTC) at which point the docking ring was extended. Starting 04:42 UTC, Mission Engineer Liu Wang used manual control for the final approach and docking.


Time shown is for the docking. Shenzhou 9's docking unit was then retracted, and hooks and latches were fully engaged at 04:55 UTC to complete China's fourth space docking between Tiangong 1 and a Shenzhou spacecraft.

The crew moved back into Tiangong some time after 08:00 UTC.

The image is taken from the large screen at the flight control centre in Beijing and was broadcast by CCTV.

China Daily reports that preparations are under way in Inner Mongolia for Shenzhou 9's landing later in the week:
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2012-06-25/content_6268425.html

Orientation changed so that complex is flying parallel to the ground with Tiangong 1 leading. Earlier, on Jun 20, it had been changed so Shenzhou 9 was leading for the Jun 24 manual docking test.

Preparation for Shenzhou 9 departure.

The crew started to enter Tiangong 1 shortly before 22:00 UTC on Jun 27, the Shenzhou hatch was closed at 22:37 UTC.

Shenzhou undocked under manual control by Liu Yang (the earlier undocking on June 24 was automatic). After retreating to 5 kilometres behind Tiangong, Shenzhou approached automatically to the 140 m rendezvous point before again departing slowly from the vicinity of Tiangong 1.

After departure of Shenzhou 9, raised apogee by 13 km as start of move to higher 'storage orbit' and to await Shenzhou 10.

The time is approximate.

The orbital module separated about one minute earlier and the Descent Module let go the Service Module at about 01:37 UTC.

Time is approximate.

Landed Inner Mongolia near 42° north, 111° east. Precise time - 02:02:50 UTC ±1 s.

Second part of manoeuvre following Shenzhou 9 departure raised perigee by 30 km to become the new apogee. Completion, of manoeuvre to higher 'storage orbit' to await Shenzhou 10:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/10/Shenzhou10.php

The time is approximate.

Orbit history:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php#TG1period

Tiangong 1 entered a phase where onboard thrusters were operated at frequent intervals to affect the orbit. Either it has a problem or it is an orbit-control experiment.

Notes:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1Problem.php

Orbit raised in two-part engine firing in a 3-4 hour period centred around this time. Indicates that the launch date for Shenzhou 10 has been moved from a possible late-2012 to a 'probable' one early 2013 between late-Jan and late-Feb. New orbit is near-identical to 2012 July, immediately after Shenzhou 9 departure.

Orbit parameters (see values for July 5 through to August 30):
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2011#053

Orbital History in chart form:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php

Tiangong 1's orbit decay rate no longer being controlled by onboard thrusters (see entry for July 10).

Decay rate now following solar weather trend. Return to Shenzhou operating height will be early January. See plot (note that fluctuations follow the space weather trend):
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/10/Shenzhou10.php#SZ10date

Single firing of thrusters raises apogee by 10 km. Orbit goes from 346 x 353 km to 345 x 373 km. Tiangong 1's ground track was not passing near the Chinese mainland at the time so may have been a test of control via one of the Yuanwang tracking ships or a test of operating in an automatic mode.

The time is approximate.

Details in the entry here:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2011#053

Single firing of thrusters raises perigee by 12 km. Orbit goes from 345 x 373 km to 367 x 374. Completion of a two-part manoeuvre started earlier in the day, almost matching the highest orbit achieved by Tiangong 1 of 368 x 379 km during 2011 November.

Details in the entry here:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2011#053

Shenzhou 10 will be in orbit early-June 2013 and the crew may include a female astronaut.

Mission length will be 15 days with 13 days docked with Tiangong 1. The plan allows for the mission to slip into July or August.

Apogee and perigee raised in a two part manoeuvre in order to set up the orbit for the Shenzhou 10 mission, due for launch 2013 June.

Tiangong 1 will now reach Shenzhou operating height in July if left to its own devices. Once a firm date for Shenzhou10 is set, the orbit will be lowered ready for rendezvous as happened with Shenzhou 9:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/Tiangong1.php

Tiangong 1 Orbit history:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2011#053

Shenzhou 10 launch window evolution:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/10/Shenzhou10.php#evolve

Long March 2F for the mission passes the Factory Review - ready for shipping to Jiuquan: http://en.cmse.gov.cn/show.php?contentid=1273

Spacecraft passes the Factory Review - ready for shipping to Jiuquan: http://en.cmse.gov.cn/show.php?contentid=1273

Packed in three consignments: service module, crew cabin and orbital module for transprt to Jiuquan.

Launch campaign timetable: http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=852

Carried by air. Arrival time is estimated for landing at the Jiuquan launch site airport.

Launch campaign timetable: http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=852

One day later than the zarya.info forecast: http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=852#dates

Approximate time.

Notes: http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=852#dates

Estimated date.

Manoeuvre in preparation for the Shenzhou 10 mission. Time is approximate and there is a slight possibility it occurred one revolution earlier - around 16:47 UTC.

Orbit changed from from 339 x 334 km to 333 x 341 km to set up the ground track. Location is be 4-5 degrees to the east of the one used for the Shenzhou 8 and 9 missions. Allows for the use of an R-bar approach from below rather than the previous missions' approach from behind.

Based on June 7 Launch

Piloted mission aimed at docking with Tiangong 1. Mission will run for fifteen days and the crew will probably consist of two male, and one female astronaut.

Date is the first day of a seven-day-long window. The launch time is an estimate for that day only and is ±2 minutes.

As of mid-May, preparations seemed to be running slightly behind schedule for a June 7 launch. Alternatives based on standard practice: Jun 9 at 10:33 UTC and Jun 11 at 09:40 UTC.

Frequency: 2224.065 MHz.

Background notes:
http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/China/Shenzhou/10/Shenzhou10.php

Launch campaign:
http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=852

The date is based on a June 7 launch.

Time is estimated and is ±10 minutes. In the event of a June 9 launch it is likely to be around 06:05 UTC.

From Tiangong 1. The time is approximate.

Preceded by retro-fire and re-entry.

Date is based on June 7 launch. The time is estimated and is ±15 minutes.