December 29, 2002 4:40 pm

Shenzhou-4

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Long March 2F

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China
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December 29, 2002 4:40 pm

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2026-07-12 08:51:27

Fourth and final test flight of the Shenzhou spacecraft, without crew on board. The spacecraft was flown in the same configuration as a crew-carrying mission, and as such two dummy astronauts were carried on board, as are sleeping bags, food and medication. The control systems were fitted with ability for manual control and emergency landing. The windows were constructed of a new material that was designed to stay clear even after reentry to allow an astronaut to confirm that the parachutes have deployed properly. The spacecraft carried 100 peony seeds to investigate the effect of weightlessness on plants grown from them. The 52 experiments onboard investigated areas in physics, biology, medicine, earth observation, material science, and astronomy.
Launch Overview
Window Open 16:40 UTC
Window Close 16:40 UTC
Lift Off Dec 29, 2002 · 16:40 UTC
Launch Facility Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Launch Pad Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921)
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Payload Shenzhou-4
Rocket Long March 2F
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship
Fourth and final test flight of the Shenzhou spacecraft, without crew on board. The spacecraft was flown in the same configuration as a crew-carrying mission, and as such two dummy astronauts were carried on board, as are sleeping bags, food and medication. The control systems were fitted with ability for manual control and emergency landing. The windows were constructed of a new material that was designed to stay clear even after reentry to allow an astronaut to confirm that the parachutes have deployed properly. The spacecraft carried 100 peony seeds to investigate the effect of weightlessness on plants grown from them. The 52 experiments onboard investigated areas in physics, biology, medicine, earth observation, material science, and astronomy.

Height

LEO Payload

Total Launches

Status

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921)
Launch Overview
Window Open 16:40 UTC
Window Close 16:40 UTC
Lift Off Dec 29, 2002 · 16:40 UTC
Launch Facility Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Launch Pad Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921)
Target Orbit Low Earth Orbit
Payload Overview
Customer China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Payload Shenzhou-4
Rocket Long March 2F
Destination Low Earth Orbit
Recovery Overview
Landing Location See Mission Notes
Landing Type RTLS / Droneship

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