Mission type | Spacecraft imaging Technology |
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Operator | CASC |
COSPAR ID | 2008-047G |
SATCAT no. | 33392 |
Spacecraft properties | |
Launch mass | 40 kilograms (88 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 25 September 2008, 13:10 (2008-09-25UTC13:10Z) UTC |
Rocket | Chang Zheng 2F |
Launch site | Jiuquan LA-4/SLS-1 |
Deployed from | Shenzhou 7 |
Deployment date | 27 September 2008, 11:27 UTC |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Low Earth |
Inclination | 42.4 degrees |
BanxingorBX-1 (Chinese: 伴星; lit. 'Companion Satellite'),[1] is a small Chinese technology development satellite which was deployed from the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft at 11:27 GMT on 27 September 2008.[1] Prior to deployment, the satellite was mounted on top of the Shenzhou 7 orbital module.
Banxing was used to relay images of the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft.[2] Weighing some 40 kilograms, and containing two cameras and communication equipment, it was maneuvered using an ammonia gas-based propulsion system.[3] Following the re-entry of Shenzhou 7, Banxing remained in orbit as part of a formation-flying experiment with the discarded Shenzhou orbital module.[4]
A few hours after Banxing was launched it and the Shenzhou 7 orbital module passed unusually close to the International Space Station. This provoked some speculation that the experiment was intended to test military anti-satellite interception technology.[3]
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Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). |
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