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The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.
Second test flight of the Shenzhou spacecraft, without crew on board. A monkey, a dog, and a rabbit were carried in a test of the spaceship's life support systems. There were also 64 different scientific payloads, including a microgravity crystallography experiment; animal species including six mice, small aquatic and terrestrial organisms; cosmic ray and particle detectors and gamma-ray burst detectors. To test the radio transmitting systems taped messages were broadcast from the spacecraft. During return to Earth the parachutes failed to open upon re-entry, which resulted in a hard landing of the descent capsule.
Serial 2
Launch Crew Count 0
Status Single Use
Landing Time 2001-01-16T11:22:00+0000
Height 62.00 Meters
Max Stages 2
Mass To GTO 0 kg
Liftoff Thrust 5985 kN
Diameter 3.35 Meters
Mass To LEO 8400 kg
Liftoff Mass 464 Tonnes
Launch Success 7
Consecutive Success 7
Maiden Flight 1999-11-19
Launch Failures 0
The Shenzhou program is a crewed spaceflight initiative by China. The program put the first Chinese citizen, Yang Liwei, into orbit on 15 October 2003.