Satellite tracking ships ready for Shenzhou VII mission

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-24-2008 09:12

All five of China's satellite tracking ships are now in position for the mission.

This radar is one of the key facilities on Yuanwang 3.  The 20-ton giant can move at a speed of 30 degrees per second.

The ships will track and support the Shenzhou VII spaceship which is due to blast off on September 25th.

The tracking ships will monitor the entire space walk and also keep tabs on the depressurization of the orbital module when astronauts leave and re-enter the spaceship.

The Yuanwang fleet can also control the solar panels, its orbital maneuvers and its maintenance.

This radar is one of the key facilities on Yuanwang 3. The 20-ton giant can move at a speed of 30 degrees per second. To avoid any possible malfunction during rough seas, crew members have to climb up the 10-meter-high antenna to check and adjust the equipment everyday.

Ding Xinglong, Party Secretary of China Maritime Tracking & Control Dept., said, "Now all five Yuanwang ships have got to the designated areas in the Pacific and  Atlantic oceans. The personnel and facilities are all in good shape. We are very confident that we can fully accomplish this mission."

China boasts a total of six Yuanwang space-tracking ships which have carried out 68 expeditions.

The ships constitute China's space telemetry network together with some 20 terrestrial surveying stations.   

　Interactive:  Be part of China's journey to space!

Editor:Zhang Ning