China - NON-MILITARY space activities & Space Industry
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Source: Xinhua | 2021-01-05 23:03:25 | Editor: huaxia
BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the leading force of the country's space industry, has released a plan for more than 40 space launches for 2021, a new high following the already busy and fruitful 2020.
The construction of China's space station, the key space mission in the year, will enter a crucial stage, according to the CASC.
The country plans to launch the core module of its manned space station in the first half of 2021. Subsequent space missions include the launches of the Tianzhou-2 cargo craft and the Shenzhou-12 manned craft.
China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 is designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving this year.
The spacecraft, launched on July 23, 2020, is expected to enter the Mars orbit around February. Afterward, it will spend two to three months surveying potential landing sites to prepare for its landing in May.
China will continue to research manned lunar exploration, and will foster the application of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) in civil aviation and other fields.
2020 has been a fruitful year for China's aerospace industry. It successfully launched its first Mars mission in July, taking the first step in its planetary exploration of the solar system.
The Chang'e-5 mission has successfully brought home 1,731 grams of moon samples and accomplished several firsts for China, including the first moon sampling, the first liftoff from an extraterrestrial body, and the first rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, and it was the first spacecraft carrying samples to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speed.
It marks the successful conclusion of China's current three-step lunar exploration program of orbiting, landing and returning samples, which began in 2004.
China launched the last BDS satellite in June of 2020 and declared the official commissioning of the BDS in July, marking the formal opening of the newly completed BDS-3 system to global users.
"2020 has been a crucial year for building up China's strength in aerospace," said Wu Yansheng, board chairman of the CASC, adding that the annual number of space launches and flight tests hit a new record and the new generation of launch vehicles performed well in major space projects.
China's new medium-lift carrier rocket Long March-8 made its maiden flight in December of 2020, filling the gap in China's launch capability to the sun-synchronous orbit from 3 tonnes to 4.5 tonnes, and is of great significance for accelerating the upgrading of launch vehicles.
A new carrier rocket developed by private enterprises for commercial use also performed well. The carrier rocket CERES-1, developed by the Beijing-based high-tech company Galactic Energy, made its maiden flight in November 2020.
"Ensuring the success of major space projects is still the top priority," Wu said, adding that the CASC will improve the efficiency and design level of space products through advanced methods including digitization.
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YF-77 Rocket Engine Completes 500-Second Test
Posted by SciNews on 2021-01-11
The YF-77 rocket engine completed the fourth 500-second test on 8 January 2021, at CASC’s rocket engine test facility in Beijing, China. YF-77 is a high-thrust hydrogen/oxygen engine designed for the Long March-5B launch vehicle. The Long March-5B Y2 launch vehicle will launch the core module of China’s next space station.
With commentary by Zhou Jianping, the chief designer of China's human space program.
Posted by SciNews on 2021-01-11
The YF-77 rocket engine completed the fourth 500-second test on 8 January 2021, at CASC’s rocket engine test facility in Beijing, China. YF-77 is a high-thrust hydrogen/oxygen engine designed for the Long March-5B launch vehicle. The Long March-5B Y2 launch vehicle will launch the core module of China’s next space station.
With commentary by Zhou Jianping, the chief designer of China's human space program.
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China moves to next stage of super heavy rocket development
By Andrew Jones | SpaceNews — January 14, 2021
CASC announces successful tests of a range of liquid and solid rocket engines for future projects, commercial actors look to reusability
HELSINKI — China’s space contractor has announced progress on rocket engines designed for major space missions, including a new engine for future lunar missions.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced Jan. 11 that progress on key technologies for a 220-ton thrust, liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen staged combustion cycle engine had been made.
The engine is designed to power the second stage of the LONG MARCH 9 rocket, a super heavy-lift launch vehicle being developed to launch major missions, including supporting future crewed missions to the moon. It follows progress on new engines for the first stage.
The LONG MARCH 9 is being developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) under CASC. A first flight is expected around 2030 to facilitate major space infrastructure projects.
The new staged combustion cycle engine is an upgrade to CASC’s YF-77 liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen gas-generator oxygen engine, providing greater thrust and efficiency. Progress includes successful hotfire tests of the preburner and propellant turbopumps and combined testing.
Wang Weibin, deputy designer of the Long March 5 rocket with the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology, a CASC subsidiary, told state media that the 220-ton thrust engine is based on technologies from the YF-77 but features improvements in materials and processes.
A pair of YF-77s, less complex engines designed for reliability, power the core stage of the LONG MARCH 5. The 57-meter-long, 870-ton rocket is currently China’s largest and most powerful launch vehicle. It last year launched the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars and Chang’e-5 lunar sample-return spacecraft.
One set of dimensions for the LONG MARCH 9 state it will be 93 meters long, feature a 10-meter-diameter core, have a mass at liftoff of 4,140 metric tons. It will have four five-meter-diameter side boosters comparable to a Long March 5 first stage. The Long March 9 is designed to be capable of lifting 140 tons to LEO (low-Earth orbit) or 50 tons to trans lunar injection.
The first stage of the launcher will use four, dual nozzle 500 ton-thrust engines sometimes referred to as the YF-130. The assembly of the first YF-130 kerosene-liquid oxygen engine was completed in 2019 and ready for hotfire test operation, according to Hui Chen of the Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Institute.
At the same time a further heavy lift launch vehicle, using three, five-meter-diameter first stage cores and clusters of YF-100K engines, is also being proposed by CALT for use as a human-rated launcher for crewed lunar missions.
SPACE STATION MISSIONS SOON
The YF-77 this week completed a 500-second hotfire test to further verify its reliability. The second, YF-77-powered LONG MARCH 5B rocket will launch the core module for China’s SPACE STATION in the coming months [from March to May 2021].
A YF-77 turbopump failure in 2017 led to the loss of the second Long March 5 and its large communications satellite payload. The failure grounded the rocket for more than 900 days as engineers worked to identify and address the issue. This also delayed the Long March 5B variant test launch and subsequently impacted China’s space station project.
A report last week stated that the second LONG MARCH 5B would soon undergo final reviews in Tianjin before shipping to the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan Island.
CASC SOLID ROCKET ENGINE
CASC announced in December a successful 130-second hotfire test of a three-segment, 3.2-meter-diameter solid rocket motor with a thrust of 260 tons. The new engine was developed by the Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology near the northern city of Xi’an (Shaanxi) and could be applied to support deep space exploration activities.
Ren Quanbin, a representative from the academy, told state media that work would move on to a 400-to-500-ton thrust solid rocket engine.
CASC has so far developed a single solid rocket, the LONG MARCH 11. Sister state-owned conglomerate CASIC is developing its own KUAIZHOU (KZ) SERIES of solid launchers of varying sizes and commercializing them through spinoff company Expace.
OTHER COMMERCIAL PLAYERS
In the Chinese NewSpace arena Beijing Deep Blue Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., conducted a wet dress rehearsal in December of a 7.3-meter-high “Nebula-M” technology verification test vehicle.
Deep Blue Aerospace says it plans to soon follow up with static fire tests and subsequent hop tests for its reusable Nebula-2 rocket.
The firm is developing the expendable 2.25-meter-diameter Nebula-1 and reusable 3.35-meter-diameter Nebula-2 liquid launchers. These are to be capable of lifting 500 kilograms to 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) and 4,500 kilograms to LEO respectively.
Fellow Chinese NewSpace outfit Linkspace succeeded with a launch and landing reaching an altitude of 300 meters in August 2019. The company has however been quiet ever since.
Beijing-based iSpace plans to carry out hop tests with a test version of a first stage of its Hyperbola-2 methalox rocket during 2021.
#Exspace #iSpace #Linkspace #DeepBlueAerospace
spacenews.com
By Andrew Jones | SpaceNews — January 14, 2021
CASC announces successful tests of a range of liquid and solid rocket engines for future projects, commercial actors look to reusability
HELSINKI — China’s space contractor has announced progress on rocket engines designed for major space missions, including a new engine for future lunar missions.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) announced Jan. 11 that progress on key technologies for a 220-ton thrust, liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen staged combustion cycle engine had been made.
The engine is designed to power the second stage of the LONG MARCH 9 rocket, a super heavy-lift launch vehicle being developed to launch major missions, including supporting future crewed missions to the moon. It follows progress on new engines for the first stage.
The LONG MARCH 9 is being developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) under CASC. A first flight is expected around 2030 to facilitate major space infrastructure projects.
The new staged combustion cycle engine is an upgrade to CASC’s YF-77 liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen gas-generator oxygen engine, providing greater thrust and efficiency. Progress includes successful hotfire tests of the preburner and propellant turbopumps and combined testing.
Wang Weibin, deputy designer of the Long March 5 rocket with the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology, a CASC subsidiary, told state media that the 220-ton thrust engine is based on technologies from the YF-77 but features improvements in materials and processes.
A pair of YF-77s, less complex engines designed for reliability, power the core stage of the LONG MARCH 5. The 57-meter-long, 870-ton rocket is currently China’s largest and most powerful launch vehicle. It last year launched the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars and Chang’e-5 lunar sample-return spacecraft.
One set of dimensions for the LONG MARCH 9 state it will be 93 meters long, feature a 10-meter-diameter core, have a mass at liftoff of 4,140 metric tons. It will have four five-meter-diameter side boosters comparable to a Long March 5 first stage. The Long March 9 is designed to be capable of lifting 140 tons to LEO (low-Earth orbit) or 50 tons to trans lunar injection.
The first stage of the launcher will use four, dual nozzle 500 ton-thrust engines sometimes referred to as the YF-130. The assembly of the first YF-130 kerosene-liquid oxygen engine was completed in 2019 and ready for hotfire test operation, according to Hui Chen of the Xi’an Aerospace Propulsion Institute.
At the same time a further heavy lift launch vehicle, using three, five-meter-diameter first stage cores and clusters of YF-100K engines, is also being proposed by CALT for use as a human-rated launcher for crewed lunar missions.
SPACE STATION MISSIONS SOON
The YF-77 this week completed a 500-second hotfire test to further verify its reliability. The second, YF-77-powered LONG MARCH 5B rocket will launch the core module for China’s SPACE STATION in the coming months [from March to May 2021].
A YF-77 turbopump failure in 2017 led to the loss of the second Long March 5 and its large communications satellite payload. The failure grounded the rocket for more than 900 days as engineers worked to identify and address the issue. This also delayed the Long March 5B variant test launch and subsequently impacted China’s space station project.
A report last week stated that the second LONG MARCH 5B would soon undergo final reviews in Tianjin before shipping to the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan Island.
CASC SOLID ROCKET ENGINE
CASC announced in December a successful 130-second hotfire test of a three-segment, 3.2-meter-diameter solid rocket motor with a thrust of 260 tons. The new engine was developed by the Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology near the northern city of Xi’an (Shaanxi) and could be applied to support deep space exploration activities.
Ren Quanbin, a representative from the academy, told state media that work would move on to a 400-to-500-ton thrust solid rocket engine.
CASC has so far developed a single solid rocket, the LONG MARCH 11. Sister state-owned conglomerate CASIC is developing its own KUAIZHOU (KZ) SERIES of solid launchers of varying sizes and commercializing them through spinoff company Expace.
OTHER COMMERCIAL PLAYERS
In the Chinese NewSpace arena Beijing Deep Blue Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd., conducted a wet dress rehearsal in December of a 7.3-meter-high “Nebula-M” technology verification test vehicle.
Deep Blue Aerospace says it plans to soon follow up with static fire tests and subsequent hop tests for its reusable Nebula-2 rocket.
The firm is developing the expendable 2.25-meter-diameter Nebula-1 and reusable 3.35-meter-diameter Nebula-2 liquid launchers. These are to be capable of lifting 500 kilograms to 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) and 4,500 kilograms to LEO respectively.
Fellow Chinese NewSpace outfit Linkspace succeeded with a launch and landing reaching an altitude of 300 meters in August 2019. The company has however been quiet ever since.
Beijing-based iSpace plans to carry out hop tests with a test version of a first stage of its Hyperbola-2 methalox rocket during 2021.
#Exspace #iSpace #Linkspace #DeepBlueAerospace
China moves to next stage of super heavy rocket development
China moves to next stage of super heavy rocket development
spacenews.com
samsara
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From Henri Kenhmann at East Pendulum on 2021.01.15:
China's first space launch of the year will take place on January 20 shortly after midnight (Beijing time), at the Xichang Space Center, Sichuan. It should be a launch to orbit GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit), using a CZ-3B rocket.
China's first space launch of the year will take place on January 20 shortly after midnight (Beijing time), at the Xichang Space Center, Sichuan. It should be a launch to orbit GTO (geosynchronous transfer orbit or geostationary transfer orbit), using a CZ-3B rocket.
samsara
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From Andrew Jones @AJ_FI on 2021.01.20:
China's first launch of 2021 declared successful. Long March 3B from Xichang launched the Tiantong-1 (03) satellite to GTO at 16:25 UTC.
Source:
The Tiantong-1 series antenna. Images: CASC
天通一号03星成功发射丨我国自主可控卫星移动通信系统实现亚太地区全覆盖
2021年1月20日凌晨，天通一号03星在西昌卫星发射中心成功发射，这是由中国航天科技集团五院通信与导航总体部自主研制的第三颗移动通信卫星。卫星在轨交付后将与天通一号01星、02星组网运行，将大大提升国家应急通信保障能力。
Successful launch of Tiantong-1 03 satellite | China's autonomous controllable satellite mobile communication system achieves full coverage in Asia-Pacific Region
In the early morning of January 20, 2021, Tiantong-1 03 satellite was successfully launched at Xichang Satellite Launch Center, which is the third mobile communication satellite independently developed by the Communication and Navigation Department of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group (CASC). After its in-orbit delivery, the satellite will be networked with Tiantong-1 01 and Tiantong-1 02 satellites, which will greatly enhance the national emergency communication support capability.
...The satellite mobile communication system is mainly for small mobile terminals, including ground personal mobile terminals, vehicle-mounted terminals, airborne terminals, shipborne terminals, etc., to provide a variety of medium and low speed communication services. It can be said that the satellite mobile communication system can realize the nearly seamless coverage of the ocean, mountain and plateau areas, and meet the needs of all kinds of users for mobile communication coverage. Because of its flexible mobile and portable characteristics, it has high civil and commercial value.
(...)
The construction of China's satellite communication mobile system is inseparable from the team's ten years of silent hard work. They have created history, and history will always remember their contributions.
In the future, the research team will continue to promote the global expansion of Tiantong-1 mobile communication satellite system, realize the large-scale application and operation of satellite mobile communication, and explore the integrated development of 5G and mobile system, so as to play a greater role in the construction of national space infrastructure.
China's first launch of 2021 declared successful. Long March 3B from Xichang launched the Tiantong-1 (03) satellite to GTO at 16:25 UTC.
Source:
The Tiantong-1 series antenna. Images: CASC
天通一号03星成功发射丨我国自主可控卫星移动通信系统实现亚太地区全覆盖
2021年1月20日凌晨，天通一号03星在西昌卫星发射中心成功发射，这是由中国航天科技集团五院通信与导航总体部自主研制的第三颗移动通信卫星。卫星在轨交付后将与天通一号01星、02星组网运行，将大大提升国家应急通信保障能力。
Successful launch of Tiantong-1 03 satellite | China's autonomous controllable satellite mobile communication system achieves full coverage in Asia-Pacific Region
In the early morning of January 20, 2021, Tiantong-1 03 satellite was successfully launched at Xichang Satellite Launch Center, which is the third mobile communication satellite independently developed by the Communication and Navigation Department of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group (CASC). After its in-orbit delivery, the satellite will be networked with Tiantong-1 01 and Tiantong-1 02 satellites, which will greatly enhance the national emergency communication support capability.
...The satellite mobile communication system is mainly for small mobile terminals, including ground personal mobile terminals, vehicle-mounted terminals, airborne terminals, shipborne terminals, etc., to provide a variety of medium and low speed communication services. It can be said that the satellite mobile communication system can realize the nearly seamless coverage of the ocean, mountain and plateau areas, and meet the needs of all kinds of users for mobile communication coverage. Because of its flexible mobile and portable characteristics, it has high civil and commercial value.
(...)
The construction of China's satellite communication mobile system is inseparable from the team's ten years of silent hard work. They have created history, and history will always remember their contributions.
In the future, the research team will continue to promote the global expansion of Tiantong-1 mobile communication satellite system, realize the large-scale application and operation of satellite mobile communication, and explore the integrated development of 5G and mobile system, so as to play a greater role in the construction of national space infrastructure.
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samsara
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Geely officially launches a 4.12b yuan internet satellite project in Qingdao
Global Times | 2021-01-27
Photo: Screenshot of Geely account at Toutiao
China's automaker Geely has officially launched its internet satellite project in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, with an investment of 4.12 billion yuan ($637 million), according to media reports. That would make the Chinese automaker in par with Tesla in the adventure into aerospace.
The project is located in the Qingdao Shanghe demonstration zone, with an area of 20,474.3 square meters, according to relevant reports.
The management committee of Shanghe demonstration zone signed a contract with Geely Technology Group in August on low earth orbit internet satellite cooperation. A subsidiary of Geely, Zhejiang Shikong Daoyu Tech Co, undertook the project.
Shikong Daoyu was founded in 2018, specializing in promoting commercial upgrades of China's satellite industrial chain and the commercial application of China's space technology.
Wang Yang, general manager and chief scientist at Shikong Douyu, predicted that internet of vehicles will be a streak for future travel, which will put forward new demands for telecommunication. On the one hand, autonomous vehicles require better and precise navigation, which could be fostered by satellite network. On the other hand, satellite telecommunication is also a must for low-altitude travelling as transportation vehicles diversify.
Geely announced in May that it would launch two satellites into low orbit by the end of last year. In August, Shikong Daoyu announced that the two satellites for the maiden launch had cleared factory review, with conditions "fully ready" for launch.
Global Times | 2021-01-27
Photo: Screenshot of Geely account at Toutiao
China's automaker Geely has officially launched its internet satellite project in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, with an investment of 4.12 billion yuan ($637 million), according to media reports. That would make the Chinese automaker in par with Tesla in the adventure into aerospace.
The project is located in the Qingdao Shanghe demonstration zone, with an area of 20,474.3 square meters, according to relevant reports.
The management committee of Shanghe demonstration zone signed a contract with Geely Technology Group in August on low earth orbit internet satellite cooperation. A subsidiary of Geely, Zhejiang Shikong Daoyu Tech Co, undertook the project.
Shikong Daoyu was founded in 2018, specializing in promoting commercial upgrades of China's satellite industrial chain and the commercial application of China's space technology.
Wang Yang, general manager and chief scientist at Shikong Douyu, predicted that internet of vehicles will be a streak for future travel, which will put forward new demands for telecommunication. On the one hand, autonomous vehicles require better and precise navigation, which could be fostered by satellite network. On the other hand, satellite telecommunication is also a must for low-altitude travelling as transportation vehicles diversify.
Geely announced in May that it would launch two satellites into low orbit by the end of last year. In August, Shikong Daoyu announced that the two satellites for the maiden launch had cleared factory review, with conditions "fully ready" for launch.
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very nice documentary.
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Source: Xinhua | 2021-02-05 00:50:20 | Editor: huaxia
XICHANG, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- China successfully launched a new communication technology experiment satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday.
The satellite was launched at 11:36 p.m. (Beijing Time) by a Long March-3B carrier rocket and entered the planned orbit successfully.
It will be used in communication, radio, television and data transmission, as well as technology tests.
This launch marked the 360th mission for the Long March series carrier rockets.
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