Shenzhou 2

Shenzhou 2 (Chinese神舟 二号) started on 9 January 2001 at 01:00 UTC clock and was the second launch of a Chinese unmanned Shenzhou spaceship. Inside the reentry capsule were a monkey, a dog and a rabbit to test the life support systems of the spaceship. The re-entry module separated from the rest of the space ship after more than seven days in orbit. The orbital module remained more 220 ​​days in orbit.

With the spacecraft Shenzhou- 2 was tested far more extensively than its predecessor Shenzhou 1 After starting in an orbit at 196.5 to 333.8 km altitude orbit 20.5 hours at a height of 327.7 to 332, was 7 km corrected. On January 12 ( 327.7 to 332.7 km) and on January 15 ( 328.7 to 345.4 miles) orbit was changed again.

In addition to the animal cargo were still 64 different scientific experiments on board. 15 in the re-entry module, 12 in the orbital module and 37 on an external Intstrumententrägerplattform. These included experiments with crystals in microgravity, animal experiments with six mice and with land and water microorganisms, Space radiation and particle measuring instruments and a gamma-ray burst gauge. To test the communication, recorded messages were sent by radio from the spaceship.

The signal for the braking rocket was sent on January 16 at 10:15 UTC clock, as the spacecraft above the southern Atlantic off the coast of South Africa was. It landed after 117 orbits around Earth after 7 days 10 hours and 22 minutes at 11:22 UTC clock in Inner Mongolia. Since no photos were released from the landing capsule was speculated that the landing was not a complete success, but this was denied by the Chinese authorities.

The orbital module remained in orbit until the missiles were fired for re-entry on 24 August 2001.