Thus China became the third nation after the US and Russia to launch a human into space. The next logical step was to increase the number of astronauts in the spacecraft and keep them aloft for longer durations. Shenzou-6 was launched on October 12, 2005, with two astronauts, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, who stayed in space for five days. Astronauts are required to move out of the spacecraft in the initial construction of the space lab and later, for repairs if the need arises. Extra-vehicular mobility is mission-critical for establishing a permanent space lab.
The Technology Race
The Shenzou-7 mission with three astronauts, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng was launched on September 25, 2005, and Zhai went out of the cabin for a space walk. With that, China joined the exclusive club of US and Russia as the few nations to have developed this technology. The initial Shenzou missions validated the procedures, processes and technology for basic manned flight but the crucial rendezvous, docking and disengagement technologies essential for setting up a manned space station were yet to be tested. The Tiangong-1 module was used to validate the operational concepts of docking and undocking and the viability of housing Chinese astronauts for long spells in space.
Shenzou-8 closed the loop on this vital facet by docking successfully with Tiangong-1 and the follow-on launches of Shenzou-9 and Shenzou-10 missions will enlarge the scope by shuttling astronauts to the “Heavenly Palace” for extended stay and extra-vehicular activities of greater complexity. By 2015 China plans to launch Tiangong-2 and Tiangong-3 space modules which are to support astronauts for 20 and 40 days respectively.
“The Tiangong-1 mission was a complete success,” said Chang Wanguan, and according to the Chief Designer of the programme, Zhou Jianpeng, “The mission was flawless.” Zhou admitted that despite tremendous progress in this field, China’s aerospace technology was still lagging behind that of the US and Russia. He added that China did not have the rocket thrust motors necessary to lift a 20-tonne payload needed to build the permanent space station but this was under development. Phase 3 of Project 921 involves placing a space station into orbit but its launch hinges on the development of the Long March-5, the next generation heavy-lift launch system currently under development by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The Long March-5 will have the ability to lift a payload of up to 25 tonnes into a low earth orbit or a 14-tonne payload to a geo-stationary transfer orbit. This would put the Long March-5 in a category second only to Boeing’s Delta IV heavy-lift rocket. China hopes that the Long March-5 would be ready for launch by 2014 from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre on Hainan Island. Li Hong, Head of the Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology assesses that China would be able to produce 20 to 30 carrier rockets each year configured for different payloads.
China had embarked on indigenous development of its space station after being rebuffed in its attempts to join the ISS programme largely on the objections by the US. China claims that she has spent only 33 billion Yuan (US$ 5.4 billion) on the manned flight programme. In contrast, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration has an annual budget of around $18 billion. However, data on Chinese Government expenditure is far from transparent and extremely difficult to authenticate. Wang Zhaoyao, Deputy Director of China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) stated that China welcomed involvement by other countries on the basis of “mutual respect, mutual benefit, transparency and openness”. Teams from CMSEO have visited space facilities in Israel, Europe, Russia and Canada. These visits are significant as Canada developed the space arm fitted on the Shuttle, Russia provided suits for the Chinese astronauts for the extra-vehicular activities and Germany has been closely associated in the biological experiments.
Although China is developing its space station on its own, it seeks collaboration from other nations in the operation of the permanent space station and further exploration of space. It appears that the Chinese spacecraft design with minor modifications would even be compatible with the docking system of the ISS. China has even acquired a space tracking station in Dongara, a remote region of Western Australia about 350kms from Perth. China views this facility at Dongara as a major step in her quest for global stature in the space arena. The Australian facility was built by Swedish Space Corporation and is on lease to China after approval by Australian authorities. This is the fifth station outside China, the others being in Chile, Kenya, Namibia and Pakistan. Australia now finds itself in a situation where it will have a US Marine base and a Chinese space facility on its territory!
Strategic High Ground
Zhou Jianpeng, Chief Designer of China’s manned space programme proclaims that China’s space programme is peaceful and will help to explore and use space for the good of mankind. However, Western nations and India are wary of China’s space programme ever since she demonstrated the ability to destroy a satellite in space with a kinetic kill. This stunning demonstration of China’s prowess of bringing down a satellite, traveling as fast as an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere, showed China’s ability to weaponise space. The US weapon systems that China wants to blunt are not space-based; they are the US naval and air forces which are dependent on space-borne systems for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence. China appreciates that it can blunt the operational capability of US forces by targeting American space assets.
Ever since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Chinese strategists have been grappling with ways to overcome the conventional forces of the US and her allies. Lessons from the Persian Gulf War, Kosovo and Afghanistan have demonstrated America’s dependence on space-based assets. “The ability to neutralise American space systems would permit a weaker Chinese military to deter, delay, degrade or defeat superior American forces and level the playing field in a shooting war,” says Ashley Tellis of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington. He adds that while China may never go to war with the US, she appreciates that America’s dependence on space-based assets constitutes the strategic weakness of US forces. For countries that can never win a war against the US with planes and tanks, attacking the US space system may be an irresistible, viable and tempting option.
China is developing a multi-dimensional programme to improve her capability to limit and prevent the use of space-based assets by adversaries during times of crisis and conflict. Dr Wu Chunsi of the Centre for America Studies at Fudan University offers another perspective that those who dwell on the military component of China’s space programme underestimate its greater strategic significance. The initial development of the space programme was entrusted to the military whose involvement has now reduced.
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While space applications have dual use, China is focusing on the commercial objectives. She claims that the US is the only nation that has the capacity to exploit space-based assets for military use and wants to maintain the status quo. She adds, “The Chinese government has recognised that its security interests lie in preventing the weaponisation of space and taking precautions against the negative effects of military operations on commercial and civilian activities in space.”
Having initiated its three-stage manned space flight programme in 1992, China is leaping forward on schedule. Chief Designer Zhou says that by 2020, China will offer its space lab as a platform for international co-operation. The assembly of China’s space lab will herald her presence in the ‘big league’ and China will take the strategic high ground in space when its “Heavenly Palace” space lab plays host to the astronauts of the world.
Notes
- The Economist, USA.
- The Straits Times, Singapore.
- Dr Ashley Tellis, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
- Dr Wu Chunsi, Centre for American Studies, Fudan Univesity.
- Chinese Manned Space Engineering Office.
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