"Nikolaj Ravn Hansen" writes:

Would it be reasonable to expect the Shenzhou desent profile to be similar
to Soyuz? I guess from an aerodynamic point of view there can't be much
dufference since the modules are quite similar in size and shape? What is
the approx timespan from de-orbit burn completion until touchdown of Souyz?

Even with aerodynamics the same, the descent profile also depends on
the mass of the capsule and the location of the center of gravity.
The center of gravity is offset so that the capsule enters at an angle
in order to generate lift.

BTW: Xinhua reports at 2137 GMT that SZ5 has performed the initial maneuvers
prior to de-orbit burn. According to some sources touchdown is expected
approx 2230 GMT.

According to the CNN article I read this morning, Shenzhou V landed
five kilometers (three miles) from the targeted landing site. The
"descent profile" must have been close to predicted to achieve such
accuracy.

Jeff
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