# Shenzhou 9

> 2012 Chinese crewed spaceflight to Tiangong-1

**Wikidata**: [Q581712](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q581712)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhou_9)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/shenzhou-9

## Summary
Shenzhou 9 was a 2012 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong-1 space module. It launched on 2012-06-16 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March 2F rocket, carried a three-person crew (commander Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang, and Liu Yang), conducted docking operations with Tiangong-1, and landed on 2012-06-29.

## Key Facts
- Shenzhou 9 was a crewed spacecraft mission of the Shenzhou class launched on 2012-06-16.  
- The mission launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using a Long March 2F launch vehicle.  
- Crew: Jing Haipeng (spacecraft commander), Liu Wang, and Liu Yang.  
- The spacecraft docked and berthed with the Tiangong-1 space module during mission operations (operations recorded between 2012-06-18 and 2012-06-28).  
- Landing occurred on 2012-06-29 in Inner Mongolia at coordinates approximately 42.2632806 N, 111.2790111 E, recorded at 02:02.  
- COSPAR ID: 2012-032A.  
- Operator: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation; part of the China Manned Space Program.  
- Mission classification: crewed spacecraft, Shenzhou class, low Earth orbit mission.  
- Preceded by Shenzhou 8 and followed by Shenzhou 10 in the Shenzhou flight sequence.  
- Aliases and native labels include 神舟九號, 神舟九号载人飞船, and 신주 9호.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary objective of Shenzhou 9?
A: The mission was a crewed flight to dock and berth with the Tiangong-1 space module as part of China’s human spaceflight program. Docking and berthing operations with Tiangong-1 took place during the mission between 2012-06-18 and 2012-06-28.

### Q: When did Shenzhou 9 launch and land?
A: Shenzhou 9 launched on 2012-06-16 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and landed on 2012-06-29 in Inner Mongolia (coordinates ~42.2632806 N, 111.2790111 E), with the landing time recorded as 02:02.

### Q: Who were the crew members on Shenzhou 9?
A: The three-person crew consisted of commander Jing Haipeng, and crew members Liu Wang and Liu Yang.

### Q: What launch vehicle and operator were used for Shenzhou 9?
A: The spacecraft was launched on a Long March 2F rocket and operated by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

## Why It Matters
Shenzhou 9 was a key operational mission within the China Manned Space Program that demonstrated crewed docking and berthing capabilities with the Tiangong-1 target module. Successful dockings and extended operations alongside Tiangong-1 validated procedures, spacecraft systems, and crewed mission workflows required for future assembly, resupply, and human operations in low Earth orbit. As part of the sequence of Shenzhou missions, Shenzhou 9 provided practical experience in rendezvous, docking, and on-orbit operations for China’s human spaceflight program. The mission’s launch, docking activities, and safe return contributed to the development and maturation of China’s crewed spacecraft operations and helped bridge earlier uncrewed/automated tests and subsequent crewed missions in the program’s timeline.

## Notable For
- Being a 2012 crewed Shenzhou-class mission that performed docking and berthing operations with Tiangong-1.  
- Carrying a three-person crew commanded by Jing Haipeng, including crew members Liu Wang and Liu Yang.  
- Launching on 2012-06-16 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on a Long March 2F and landing on 2012-06-29 in Inner Mongolia.  
- Serving as the crewed flight between the uncrewed Shenzhou 8 mission and the subsequent Shenzhou 10 mission within the China Manned Space Program.

## Body
### Mission overview
- Mission name: Shenzhou 9.  
- Mission type: Crewed spacecraft mission to Tiangong-1.  
- Program: China Manned Space Program.  
- Instance of: crewed spacecraft; Shenzhou class; human spaceflight.  
- COSPAR ID: 2012-032A.

### Launch vehicle and site
- Launch vehicle: Long March 2F.  
- Launch site / start point: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.  
- Launch date: 2012-06-16.

### Crew
- Jing Haipeng — spacecraft commander.  
- Liu Wang — crew member.  
- Liu Yang — crew member.

### Mission timeline and docking operations
- Docking and berthing operations with Tiangong-1 occurred during the mission. Documented activity windows include:  
  - A docking/berthing period with Tiangong-1 from 2012-06-18 to 2012-06-24.  
  - A subsequent docking/berthing period with Tiangong-1 from 2012-06-24 to 2012-06-28.  
- Mission end (landing): 2012-06-29, recorded landing time 02:02 and landing location in Inner Mongolia at latitude 42.26328055555555, longitude 111.27901111111112.

### Orbital details
- Orbit regime: Low Earth orbit (satellite_of: low Earth orbit).  
- Mission included rendezvous and docking activities with the Tiangong-1 target module.

### Organization and identifiers
- Operator: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.  
- Part of: China Manned Space Program.  
- Freebase ID: /m/08pl53.  
- Aliases: 神舟九號; 神舟九号载人飞船; 신주 9호.  
- Native label: 神舟.  
- Commons category: Shenzhou-9.

### Sequence position
- Preceded by: Shenzhou 8.  
- Followed by: Shenzhou 10.

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Shenzhou 9",
  "description": "Shenzhou 9 was a 2012 Chinese crewed spaceflight to Tiangong-1 that launched on 2012-06-16 and landed on 2012-06-29.",
  "sameAs": [
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## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013