INPE Concludes Participation in Shenzhou-9

Hello reader!

It follows a note published on the day (06/18) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) stating that INPE concludes participation in the Chinese Manned Mission Shenzhou-9.

Duda Falcão

INPE Concludes Participation in Shenzhou-9

Monday, June 18, 2012

The Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais - INPE) has successfully completed its support for the Chinese mission after the successful docking of Shenzhou-9 with Tiangong-1 module, early on Monday (18).

It was the first docking of a manned Chinese spacecraft with this module, an orbiting laboratory. The mission is also remarkable for sending to space the China's first female, along with two other astronauts.

The support for Shenzhou-9 mission fell to the ground station, based in Alcântara (MA), belonging to the Center for Satellite Tracking and Control (Centro de Rastreio e Controle de Satélites - CRC) of INPE. Throughout the weekend, the spacecraft orbit was also tracked by the team of the control center in São José dos Campos (SP).

CRC/INPE has tracked Shenzhou-9 during its first passages over the station and transmitted data to the China’s Control Center in Xi'an. The first passage over Alcântara was recorded just after 10 a.m. on Saturday (16).

Meanwhile, in São José dos Campos, technicians at CRC/INPE have received updated information from China about the spacecraft orbit, to generate data for each future passage over Alcântara, for example, the moment of entry and exit of visibility area and the pointing angles of the tracking station’s antenna.

"The performance of INPE team was highly praised by the China’s Control Center in a letter of gratitude to the Institute," said Pawel Rozenfeld, Head of CRC/INPE.

Team of CRC/INPE tracking the Chinese spacecraft orbit at

the control center of São José dos Campos

Crew Enter Tiangong-1 Space Lab - CCTV

Source: WebSite of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)

Comentário: Gostaríamos de agradecer ao leitor José Ildefonso pelo envio desse vídeo.