BEIJING, Oct. 11 -- The Xi'an Satellite Observation and Control Centre, the
only such institution in China, is gearing up for the expected launch of
Shenzhou VI this week.
On the assumption that Shenzhou VI will fly for more than one day with more
than one astronaut, the centre conducted key research projects to improve its
two observation systems communication and landing according to Chen Changgui,
general engineer of the centre.
"During the flights of China's Shenzhou series spacecraft before, the
working status and reliability of our centre's observation-control communication
system and the landing system were fully tested, and we have made further
improvements to the software and hardware systems for Shenzhou VI," Chen said.
Compared with the experiments for Shenzhou I to Shenzhou V, the overall
technical performance of the observation-control communications system has been
considerably enhanced, which meets the requirements of more people and more time
for the second manned space flight, Chen said.
Space observation and control experts regard the newly improved technical
system for Shenzhou VI highly, saying it has high manoeuvrability, co-ordination
and reliability. The new system combines observation and control,
communications, search and rescue, recycling and meteorological safeguard
systems.
"During the flight and return of Shenzhou VI, the forecasting equipment and
optical surveying station can solve the weather forecast problem if the flight
time of Shenzhou VI is lengthened, and they can take photos of the spacecraft
landing for research," the general engineer said.
Based in the capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the Xi'an
Satellite Observation and Control Centre and its eight observation and control
stations are equipped with precise high-tech observation and control equipment
to track satellites and spacecraft.
On Monday morning, a rescue exercise was conducted in Yulin, a city in
northern Shaanxi that Shenzhou VI will fly over 70 to 430 seconds after launch,
according to Tang Xuzhen, an official with the Yulin municipal government.
"Yulin is the only emergency rescue spot within the boundaries of Shaanxi,"
Tang said. "And we trained in everything from finding the astronauts, carrying
them in a helicopter and taking them to hospital."
(Source: China Daily)