Shenzhou-8 & Shenzhou-8-GC

Long March 2F/G, on the improved variant's maiden flight, launched the uncrewed Shenzhou 8 spacecraft from Jiuquan. Days later it performed China's first automated rendezvous and docking, joining with the Tiangong-1 module in a milestone toward a permanent Chinese space station.

Outcome

Success

Orbit

LEO

Low Earth orbit

Payload to orbit

7.3 T (est.)

Flight

2nd

of 22 Long March 2F/G flights

Date and time

31 October 2011, 21:58 UTC

Rocket

Long March 2F/G

Builder

CASC

Launch site

Launch Area 91 (SLS-1 / 921), Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Payload

Human Exploration

International designator

2011-063

Launches in 2011

66th of 84

See it in orbit

Space Atlas shows the satellites and rocket stages from this launch in 3D.

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