Twenty-two minutes after Shenzhou V entered its pre-set
orbit Wednesday, it unfolded its solar panels on the first order
from the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center, Xinhua has
learned.
The order was radioed to the spacecraft via Yuanwang-2 measuring
vessel in the south Pacific Ocean.
During its 21-hour flight, the spacecraft will receive from the
center ten digitized commands detailing instructions on its
maneuvers in the outer space.
Liu Chengjun, 31, and Hong Chunhui, 26, sitting in the terminal
room shielded with large glasses at the Beijing center, are
responsible for the input of these orders. The flight schedule had
been put into the computer system of Shenzhou V before the
spacecraft took off, but Liu and Hong have to readjust it by
deleting the old data and putting in new data in response to
real-time changes during the flight, particularly during the first
and fifth orbits.
The second and third inputs of the schedule will be done by the
measuring and control stations in Kashi in Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region and Weinan in Shaanxi Province, during the
craft's second round of orbital maneuver. This is meant to ensure
that in case of need, Shenzhou V can make an emergency return
during the third and fourth orbits.
Data sent to the space vehicle during the first eight orbits
will ensure that the craft can make an emergency return during each
orbit. During the fifth orbit, the spaceship will adjust itself to
a circular orbit from the previous elliptical one, with data it
receives during the third orbit.
The last two data inputs are key to the safety of the
home-coming craft. Commands before and during the return will be
given from a measuring and control station in Namibia, when
Shenzhou V makes the ninth circle round the Earth.
The last order, from the Weinan station, will amend the return
data to ensure accuracy of the spacecraft's landing.
All the data are programed by computer automatically, but Liu
and his colleague have to compare them with the flight schedule
carefully, in light of the specific timing and sequence of the
commands.
(Xinhua News Agency October 15, 2003)
