Space mission's landing field system operating (Xinhua) Updated: 2005-10-12 14:18
The manned aerospace project's landing field system was activated after the
Shenzhou VI spacecraft blasted off Wednesday morning, in case of the return
capsule's emergency landing.
The system, instead of being started when the craft returns and lands, begins
operation when Shenzhou VI lifted off at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, as the spaceship
may run into emergency and have to return at any stage during its flight, said
Hou Ying, chief designer of the landing field system.
The system consists of five sub-systems, including main and auxiliary landing
field sub-system, landing emergency rescue sub-system, off-shore emergency
rescue sub-system, communication sub-system and astronaut medical care
sub-system.
Based on estimated failure possibilities of the spacecraft and geographical
conditions of the seven provinces it flies over during ascending, four landing
emergency rescue stations are set up in Jiuquan, Yinchuan, Yulin and Handan in
northwest and north China and three off-shore rescue stations in the Yellow Sea,
the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
"What the seven rescue stations do is to deal with emergencies during the
10-minute-odd ascending," Hou said, adding they have spent two years on
preparation to ensure the safety of the astronauts.
Most emergency rescue stations were closed after the spacecraft entered the
preset orbit soundly.
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