Jing & Chen
The ballad of Shenzhou-11 taikonauts
By Philippe Coué
The flight log of the most recent Chinese manned space mission.
But much more.
Through a chronological but lively, technical but fascinating account, Philippe Coué, a recognised specialist in Chinese astronautics, takes us on a 33-day journey into space with the crew of the Shenzhou-11 vessel, General Jing Haipeng and Colonel Chendong.
A mission of capital
importance for the Chinese space strategy, as it will have enabled the
validation of the necessary technologies for the implementation of the
future CSS/Tiangong-3 station, whose launch is imminent. The permanent
operation of this orbital Earth station is an essential prerequisite for
the Chinese's declared objective of a human mission to the Moon.
Together
with Jing and Chen, you will stay for a month in the small Tiangong-2
space station, previously resupplied by the Tianzhou
freighter/spacecraft tug. You will follow their programme of scientific
activities from day to day: orbital rendezvous, medicine, space
horticulture, gastronomy, radiation studies, silkworm breeding,
robotics, thought-based computer control...
Beyond the technical-scientific account, the author throws a clear light on the media-political coverage of the mission by Chinese officials. Some grey areas remain in the story, as not everything has been revealed by the media and the Chinese administration (in particular on potentially more "military" aspects of the mission), but "Jing & Chen" constitutes a fascinating synthesis of the available information. A work never done before, with an impressive iconographic richness.
An experienced executive in the aerospace field, Philippe Coué is recognised as the specialist in Chinese space news. He has published numerous works on the subject.
171 pages - in EnglishSkyshelf.eu