Fanhui Shi Weixing
Fanhui Shi Weixing (simplified Chinese: 返回式卫星; traditional Chinese: 返回式衛星; pinyin: Fǎnhuí Shì Wèixīng; lit. 'recoverable satellite') is a series of Chinese recoverable reconnaissance satellites. The satellites were used for both military and civilian observation needs, with a total of 26 flights. The first Flight was FSW-0 on 1969-06-01 and the last SJ-8 on 2006-09-09.
Four models of the satellites were introduced: FSW-0, FSW-1, FSW-2, and the most modern being FSW-3.
All satellites were put in orbit using the Long March rockets, most of them by the CZ-2C type.
Successful achievement of landing technology (third in the World after USSR and USA) was the basis for the second Chinese manned space program (short period of 1978-1980) and current Shenzhou program (since 1992).
Due to lack of information both about origins of FSW and about second manned space program (that was announced few times in 1978 with the open publishing of some details including photos, but then was abruptly cancelled in 1980), first model FSW-0, probably, was designed initially for manned use as spacecraft instead of first manned programm Shuguang aborted in early 70s.[1]
More over, in the West were the rumours that after dozen of mostly successful launches of FB-1 and CZ-2 rockets and 4 successful annual launches of FSW (last one in January 26, 1978 claimed as dress rehearsal) China made in December, 1978 (or on January 7, 1979 according to another unconfirmed sources) the first attempt of launch of manned version of FSW spacecraft, but due to fail with loss of astronaut this program was closed, and the FSW satellites (redisigned for unmanned goals as subsequent models) retrived a flights in 1982 only.[1]
External links
 | This spacecraft or satellite related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- ^ a b "Chinese Manned Capsule 1978". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Retrieved 2009-05-13. http://www.astronautix.com/articles/chidoors.htm Cite error: The named reference "Astronautix" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).